The Blessing of His Coming #1

Text: Isaiah 53

It's is a joy to be here today in front of you as we look into God's word. The Psalmist said so many years ago that "the entrance of thy word gives light; it gives understanding to the simple." Psalms 119:130.
We have entered the last month of the 20th century. As is normal with the last month of any year, we are once again as a world focusing on the world changing event that took place some 2000 years ago.
While we realize that the story of Jesus which includes his humble beginnings up to his cruel death through to his coronation is a story that needs to be celebrated every day of our lives and not just one part on one day, it is important that we remember how beautiful the story of Jesus coming to earth the first time really is!

How different would life be if Jesus had never come?
Imagine for a moment there would never have been someone like that speaking things like this:
"do unto others as you would have them do to you."
"Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy."
"Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest."
There would be no recollection of the angels singing "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, good will toward men."

This week we want to begin a mini-series on the blessing of his coming!
The beauty of the fact that Jesus Christ came into this world in the fashion that he did can be seen in an otherwise ordinary conversation between a simple Jewish carpenter and a Samaritan woman of relatively low social class. Please turn to John 4, and look with me.
Here is this woman who is so tired of living without assurance and walking without direction but she knows something:
vs.25 "I know that Messiah is coming-when He come, He will tell us all things." Jesus says, "I who speak to you am He."

The most anticipated event of the Old Testament was the coming of the Messiah!
With eagerness the great men of old looked forward to the day when the Christ, the anointed one of God would break loose in the world and all those who were held captive in the darkness of sin could be set free!
Matt.13:17- "many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear and did not hear it."

It began back in Genesis 3.
Sin has entered the world. The world which was created in God's peace and harmony now knew chaos and disorder. But, as sin's darkness entered the world a brighter light began to shine, that being the fact that the destroyer of sin would one day enter the world as well. Gen.3:15!
Deut.18:15,17-19- the Jews were told that a prophet was to arise who would speak the pure words of God to the world.
Isa.7:14- the sign from God above was that this anointed one would enter the world in a manner entirely different than all others:
through a virgin.
This man would be tender to the world. Isaiah 42:1-4.

The most looked to part of his coming though is found in Isaiah 53!
If you ever want to know how devastating it would have been for Jesus not to come, everything you read in this chapter would be reversed!
The Messiah is coming, the King of kings and Lord of lords shall come some day, and when he does this is what will happen!
Vs.1- there would be unbelief!
For some reason, the most anticipated birth in the history of the world would occur and many would fail to believe it came true! John 12:37,38!
Vs.2- Why didn't they believe it? His human development!
Jesus would be a normal human, not extraordinary! Jesus was simply one of us! Luke 2:52
Vs.3- man of sorrows!
Jesus would be a man who knew heartache and pain and grief! While a king, he would be a sufferer! Luke 19:41.
Vs.4- bear man's infirmities!
He would take our pains, grief, and sufferings and make them his own! He would take our heavy yokes and replace them with his lighter one. Matt.8:17
Vs.5- wounded in death!
Jesus the coming Messiah would not die a natural death nor would he live forever. He would be killed! Matt.27:35
Vs.6- death vicarious!
It would be our path to salvation. 1 Pet.2:24,25
Vs.7- no resistance!
Jesus in one of his greatest qualities could take abuse without having to argue back! Matt.27:12,31
Vs.9- associated with the wicked.
John 19:41- the enemies had planned his death to be a shameful death. But with the rich - he would be buried in a rich man's grave!
Vs.10- put to grief.
Luke 19:41 an offering for sin. The reason it was such a celebration when Jesus came into this world was not the simple fact that Jesus had come to earth, but he had come to earth on a specific mission: to make atonement for the sins of the world! Matt.20:28
The Father pleased with it!
Rom.3:24-26. The blood of Jesus is the only sacrifice that can please the Father.
Vs.12- soul "life" poured out!
Why did my Jesus come to earth? To die! Matt.26:28
Numbered with the transgressors!
Luke 22:37. Jesus took his place right beside and in the midst of sinners!
Make intercession!
He now intercedes on behalf of those he calls his own! Luke 22:34! Heb.7:25

Now, if you can, imagine you are Joseph:
you have been reading your Bible a little bit since the angel came to you and informed you that your fiancé who is pregnant is going to give birth to God's Son!
So you begin to read the passages that the priests have told you to look for in the coming Messiah. You look intently at Isaiah 53 and all of a sudden realize that this baby in your arms, this Son of God is the one who is going to take everything the hosts of hell can throw at him and turn it into a victory for all who will love him!
What goes through your mind?
What is going through our minds?

Next week, we are going to look at how the early New Testament characters reacted to his coming!

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