The Silent Servant
Isaiah 53:7-9
July 21, 2024
Tonight we come to our 4th look at this wonderful Suffering Servant passage of Isaiah.
We’ve seen THE SUCCESSFUL SERVANT
That despite His horrific suffering, He is God’s chosen servant and God has promised to exalt Him.
We’ve seen THE SCORNED SERVANT
That because He did not look the part, He was despised and not esteemed by humanity.
We’ve seen THE SUBSTITUTIONARY SERVANT
That the reason for His suffering is because He was bearing our sin and the consequences that came with it.
And tonight we look at THE SILENT SERVANT
When reading these 3 verses it becomes immediately obvious that Isaiah has a special interest here in the speech of our servant.
Twice in verse 7 we are told that despite His suffering “He did not open His mouth”
The end of verse 9 reveals to us that there was no “deceit in His mouth”
Clearly the emphasis here is on His speech.
Perhaps more than that we are talking about His response to all the suffering.
We learn very clearly from Jesus in the New Testament:
Matthew 12:34b “For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.”
Certainly here we get a look at the heart of Christ.
Certainly here we get a look at the participation of Christ.
We learned this morning at the end of verse 6 that Christ’s coming as a substitute was all the sovereign will of the Father.
“But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him.”
Acts 2:23a “this Man, [was] delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God”
It was God who sent Him.
It was God who imputed our sin to Him.
It was God who then poured out judgment and wrath on Him as the bearer of our sin.
I suppose an obvious question to follow such a revelation would be, “What did Christ think about that plan?”
And here we find the great love of Christ for we see that in every aspect of His suffering, He was ALL IN!
John 10:17-18 “For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. “No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.”
Clearly Christ was totally compliant.
He willingly and eagerly participated in the plan.
If someone were to look at the scene of the crucifixion unfolding and ask the question, “But did Jesus want to go to the cross?”
The answer is absolutely!
That is why He came.
That was His desire.
That was His purpose.
He came to save sinners.
And even to that the motive is not difficult for us to understand:
John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.”
It is the unyielding, uncomprehensible, unfailing, unrelenting love of Christ.
He did not go to the cross as an unwilling sacrifice.
He was not handed over as a reluctant savior.
If that were the case we might have heard Him arguing, pleading, complaining, or defending Himself.
But “He did not open His mouth.”
His heart was set upon saving His people.
And as He told Peter and the rest of the disciples:
Matthew 16:21 “From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day.”
This had to happen for salvation to occur and Jesus, in His heart, was all in.
He came to save you and it was His desire to do so.
It really is remarkable love just to think about it.
And that love is clearly manifest for us here in these 3 verses as we examine really the scene that unfolded and Christ’s compliance with it.
Tonight we want to break these verses down into 4 points.
And I want you to see the love of Christ through His compliance.
#1 HE WAS VOLUNTARY IN HIS TRIAL
Isaiah 53:7
We open the verse by reading that, “He was oppressed and He was afflicted,”
And now we can add both of those realities to His growing list of sufferings.
We’ve already examined His sorrows and His griefs.
We’ve already seen that He was pierced through and crushed.
And now we add words like “oppressed” and “afflicted” to the list.
“oppressed” is a Hebrew word that means “pressed hard”
It can be used of a driver of livestock who pushes his animals hard in labor or in transport. Or of a boss who is extremely hard on his employees.
Isaiah 58:3 “‘Why have we fasted and You do not see? Why have we humbled ourselves and You do not notice?’ Behold, on the day of your fast you find your desire, And drive hard all your workers.”
In Exodus it referred to those Egyptians who oppressed the slaves.
Exodus 5:13 “The taskmasters pressed them, saying, “Complete your work quota, your daily amount, just as when you had straw.”
The same word is there translated “taskmaster”.
And this is the oppression that Christ was placed under.
We also see the word “afflicted” which comes from a word that means “to become low” or “to be put down” or “to be humbled”.
And if you’re allowing your mind to take you back to the events surrounding the cross then you know that here we are discussing both His arrest and His trial.
Where Christ was captured and bound and taken to trial.
While He was there He was pressed hard and abused.
They attacked Him so as to humble Him and humiliate Him.
They treated Him like a criminal.
And I again remind you why.
It is because He was bearing our sin.
He was being treated as we deserved.
But we saw this oppression and affliction during His arrest and trial.
He was arrested in the garden, going with them without a fight.
He was first taken to Annas:
John 18:22 “When He had said this, one of the officers standing nearby struck Jesus, saying, “Is that the way You answer the high priest?”
He was then taken into the house of Caiaphas:
Mark 14:65 “Some began to spit at Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him with their fists, and to say to Him, “Prophesy!” And the officers received Him with slaps in the face.”
He was then taken to a public trial:
Luke 22:63-65 “Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking Him and beating Him, and they blindfolded Him and were asking Him, saying, “Prophesy, who is the one who hit You?” And they were saying many other things against Him, blaspheming.”
He was then carried before Pilate:
John 19:1-5 “Pilate then took Jesus and scourged Him. And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and put a purple robe on Him; and they began to come up to Him and say, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and to give Him slaps in the face. Pilate came out again and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you so that you may know that I find no guilt in Him.” Jesus then came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold, the Man!”
He was then taken to Herod:
Luke 23:11 “And Herod with his soldiers, after treating Him with contempt and mocking Him, dressed Him in a gorgeous robe and sent Him back to Pilate.”
And finally back to Pilate where He was sentenced to be crucified.
That is what you call oppression and affliction.
He was pressed hard, He was brought low.
If there was a time to fight back or defend yourself this was it.
Many a criminal has sought to defend himself at the moment of his arrest.
Certainly under the questioning of a trial he will try to offer evidence of innocence.
And they do this because they don’t want to be punished.
They don’t want to go to jail.
They don’t want to pay a fine.
They don’t want to be executed.
But here was Jesus, being pressed hard from every direction and being humiliated by His accusers and what did He do to try and escape the scorn and the punishment?
NOTHING
“Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth.”
Peter said:
1 Peter 2:23 “and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;”
He simply held His tongue.
Before Caiaphas:
Mark 14:60-61a “The high priest stood up and came forward and questioned Jesus, saying, “Do You not answer? What is it that these men are testifying against You?” But He kept silent and did not answer.”
Before Herod:
Luke 23:9 “And he questioned Him at some length; but He answered him nothing.”
Before Pilate:
Mark 15:2-5 “Pilate questioned Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And He answered him, “It is as you say.” The chief priests began to accuse Him harshly. Then Pilate questioned Him again, saying, “Do You not answer? See how many charges they bring against You!” But Jesus made no further answer; so Pilate was amazed.”
And again the second time:
John 19:8-9 “Therefore when Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid; and he entered into the Praetorium again and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer.”
Jesus just wouldn’t defend Himself.
It’s almost like He was determined to go to the cross.
This is what we call amazing love.
To submit to oppression.
To submit to humiliation.
To refuse to offer a defense.
To refuse to try and free yourself.
It is no wonder that this is the very passage that overwhelmed the Ethiopian Eunuch and led him to salvation.
Acts 8:32-34 “Now the passage of Scripture which he was reading was this: “HE WAS LED AS A SHEEP TO SLAUGHTER; AND AS A LAMB BEFORE ITS SHEARER IS SILENT, SO HE DOES NOT OPEN HIS MOUTH. “IN HUMILIATION HIS JUDGMENT WAS TAKEN AWAY; WHO WILL RELATE HIS GENERATION? FOR HIS LIFE IS REMOVED FROM THE EARTH.” The eunuch answered Philip and said, “Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself or of someone else?”
What else can we attribute that to but the love of Christ that He refused to speak up to free Himself or to defend Himself.
He was voluntary in His trial.
#2 HE WAS VICTIMIZED IN HIS JUDGMENT
Isaiah 53:8a
“By oppression and judgment He was taken away;”
In know we saw the word “oppressed” in verse 7 but this is a different Hebrew word used here.
That word was NAW-GAS
This word is O-TSER
This word speaks of “restraint” or “closure”.
It is actually used of when the LORD closes the womb and restrains a woman from having children.
But here it speaks of a restraint as a result of coercion.
It’s not talking about Jesus here being restrained, this is talking about the restraint that was thrown on Pilate.
You’ve read the account, you know that Pilate definitely had a preference regarding what to do with Jesus.
Even Pilat’s wife had warned him to have nothing to do with Jesus.
And several times Pilate tried to set him free.
But in the end Pilate ends up crucifying Jesus anyway, why?
Because the Jews coerced him.
They bound him up and restrained him from doing what he wanted.
How?
John 19:12-16 “As a result of this Pilate made efforts to release Him, but the Jews cried out saying, “If you release this Man, you are no friend of Caesar; everyone who makes himself out to be a king opposes Caesar.” Therefore when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out, and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. Now it was the day of preparation for the Passover; it was about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Behold, your King!” So they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” So he then handed Him over to them to be crucified.”
Did you hear the threat of the Jewish leaders?
“If you release this Man, you are no friend of Caesar;”
Luke 23:23-24 “But they were insistent, with loud voices asking that He be crucified. And their voices began to prevail. And Pilate pronounced sentence that their demand be granted.”
We read that the masses “were insistent”
Mark 15:14-15 “But Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify Him!” Wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas for them, and after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.”
There we read, “wishing to satisfy the crowd”
And what was Pilates final decision?
Matthew 27:24-26 “When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this Man’s blood; see to that yourselves.” And all the people said, “His blood shall be on us and on our children!” Then he released Barabbas for them; but after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.”
“By oppression and judgment He was taken away;”
Pilate was encircled and coerced.
He was pressured and intimidated.
He was threatened and overwhelmed.
And in his own human weakness he submitted and passed “judgment” on Christ who was “taken away” to be crucified.
Christ was totally victimized.
There was nothing right in this.
There was nothing just in this.
We don’t have time tonight, but go look up the sermon we had years ago on Matthew 26:57-68 and “The Corrupt Trial of Jesus” and see that there was nothing legitimate about this.
I know it is common for most convicted criminals today to try and play the victim card, but Jesus really was.
He was totally cheated.
And what did Jesus say to all of this?
NOTHING
He never asked to address the crowd.
He never warned Pilate that he better listen to his wife.
He never sought to contradict the testimony against Him.
And even when being sentenced to crucifixion He didn’t argue for a lesser sentence.
Crucifixion is what He came for.
He was committed to it.
But there is even more of a picture here.
We read it this morning:
Leviticus 16:21 “Then Aaron shall lay both of his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the sons of Israel and all their transgressions in regard to all their sins; and he shall lay them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who stands in readiness.”
That is the same language being used here.
Christ, bearing our sin, was also “taken away”
And He submitted to it without a single request on His own behalf.
Tell me about the love of Christ.
He was voluntary in trial
He was victimized in judgment
#3 HE WAS VILIFIED IN HIS DEATH
Isaiah 53:8b
Now we have moved from His trial and the pronounced judgment upon Him to the place and moment of His execution.
We know He was crucified.
He was nailed to that cross and raised up between two criminals.
Here we read that “He was cut off out of the land of the living”
That means death.
And we even know why He died.
“For the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due”
As we have learned repeatedly, He was bearing our sin and thus was subject to our punishment.
He had become surety for our note.
He had taken our debt upon Himself.
And that debt could only be paid in blood.
The wages of sin is death and so Christ came to die to pay off our debt.
And we have discussed that substitutionary atonement that He worked on the cross.
But if you’ll notice verse 8 here is in the form of a question.
This is not a verse where Isaiah is for the first time revealing to us that Christ was suffering for our sin.
He already told us that this morning back in verses 4-6.
Here in verse 7 Isaiah is watching Christ die and he is asking a question.
That question is this:
Who there at the cross knew that is why Jesus was dying?
“And as for His generation, who considered that He was cut off out of the land of the living for the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was do?”
“His generation” refers to the people of His day.
And Isaiah simply wants to know if anyone there, watching Him die, understood why He was dying?
I mean here was a guy who had already submitted to an oppressive and humiliating trial all for the goal of being crucified for His people.
Here is a guy who already stood silent before His accusers and even before Pilate at His sentencing all because the objective was to have Pilate crucify Him.
But now, the deed is done.
He has been crucified.
He is hanging before men.
There is no going back.
Now, at this point, does anyone understand what is really happening?
Is anyone there aware that He is doing this for them?
Well we know the answer.
Matthew 27:38-44 “At that time two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and one on the left. And those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking Him and saying, “He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him. “HE TRUSTS IN GOD; LET GOD RESCUE Him now, IF HE DELIGHTS IN HIM; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” The robbers who had been crucified with Him were also insulting Him with the same words.”
Mark 15:27-32 “They crucified two robbers with Him, one on His right and one on His left. And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And He was numbered with transgressors.” Those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads, and saying, “Ha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself, and come down from the cross!” In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes, were mocking Him among themselves and saying, “He saved others; He cannot save Himself. “Let this Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, so that we may see and believe!” Those who were crucified with Him were also insulting Him.”
Luke 23:35-39 “And the people stood by, looking on. And even the rulers were sneering at Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is the Christ of God, His Chosen One.” The soldiers also mocked Him, coming up to Him, offering Him sour wine, and saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!” Now there was also an inscription above Him, “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.” One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!”
Now, we do know that there was one who had his eyes opened and did see.
The thief on the cross was made aware, asked for salvation, and Jesus saved him.
But not a single other person understood.
I mean, even when we introduced this text last Sunday morning we talked about how even His disciple didn’t get it.
Don’t you remember those men on the road to Emmaus?
Luke 24:17-27 “And He said to them, “What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?” And they stood still, looking sad. One of them, named Cleopas, answered and said to Him, “Are You the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?” And He said to them, “What things?” And they said to Him, “The things about Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to the sentence of death, and crucified Him. “But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened. “But also some women among us amazed us. When they were at the tomb early in the morning, and did not find His body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive. “Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just exactly as the women also had said; but Him they did not see.” And He said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! “Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.”
And here is a good question.
WHY NOT?
Well certainly we could appeal to the fact that they thought God was punishing Him for His own sin.
Certainly we could talk about Him not looking majestic in His saving work.
Certainly we could talk about Him being marred beyond human likeness.
But there is another reason no one figured it out while He was on the cross.
Of all the things He said there, can I tell you what He didn’t say?
He never explained from the cross that He was innocent, or that He was dying for them.
He never looked down from the cross at the crowd and said, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! “Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.”
That’s what I would have done!
If I’m going to suffer for you and bear your sin and be oppressed and afflicted and falsely tried and corruptly condemned and nailed to a cross…
You had better know for sure that I’m going to make sure everyone knows why I’m doing it.
I’m going to be explaining to everyone that this isn’t for me, this is for you.
I’m going to start naming every one of your sins, both public and private as I pay for them.
I’m going to talk about everything you did and how I am bearing it.
But not Jesus.
“He did not open His mouth” at least not to defend or explain Himself.
Why?
Well partly because part of the suffering was shame and He was not there to avoid it.
But also because what He did He did out of love, not just out of duty.
If you love someone and you wish to save them you don’t humiliate them doing it.
If you save out of love you just save.
1 Corinthians 13:4-5 “Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,”
He is the silent servant.
Tell me now about His great love for you.
He was voluntary in His arrest
He was victimized in His judgment
He was vilified in His death
All while remaining silent
#4 HE WAS VINDICATED IN HIS BURIAL
Isaiah 53:9
As this verse continues we find that the desire for scorn continued.
At this point Jesus is dead and so there’s no way He can defend Himself even if He wanted to.
And we find that “His grave as assigned with wicked men”
He was numbered with transgressors, no doubt He was going to be buried with them.
I can tell you were they were going to be buried.
They were going to be buried in that potter’s field or field of blood.
But at this point God, in His sovereign providence intervened.
We read that:
“Yet He was with a rich man in His death,”
And this is not mysterious to us.
Matthew 27:57-60 “When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away.”
It was Joseph who found courage and took the body of Jesus and buried it in an honored buried site as opposed to that criminal’s pit.
And of course the theological promise behind all of this is clear to us as well.
Psalms 16:10 “For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.”
And all of that is true.
But Isaiah here links this honorable burial, not to a prophetic promise from David, but rather as a response from God to the submissive nature of Jesus.
Isaiah says that “He was with a rich man in His death, because He had done no violence, nor was there any deceit in His mouth.”
There are many ways to read that.
When we talk about doing “no violence” it can either be a reference to His submissive willingness to be arrested, tried, convicted and crucified.
That would certainly be true.
It can also be a reference to His humble obedience to God’s Law.
Remember how Jesus spoke of the rebellious Jews?
Matthew 11:12 “From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force.”
It was a reference to people trying to malign the word of God and lower the standard to force their way into heaven.
God would echo that:
Ezekiel 22:26 “Her priests have done violence to My law and have profaned My holy things; they have made no distinction between the holy and the profane, and they have not taught the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they hide their eyes from My sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.”
Even when we read that there was no “deceit in His mouth.”
It certainly could be that He never lied to protect His own skin while on trial, but it can also be a reference to His purity in His confession of loyalty to God.
When He made commitments to God He kept them.
When He said He was going to the cross, He went.
He always did the things pleasing to the Father.
Jesus rebuked the religious elite:
Matthew 12:34 “You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.”
They couldn’t speak truth because they had evil hearts.
All they knew was deception.
But not Jesus.
His confession was pure.
His confession was true.
He never maligned or twisted God’s word.
He simply walked in purity.
And I think that is what Isaiah is referring to.
This Jesus who was oppressed and afflicted in His trial…
This Jesus who was victimized in judgment…
This Jesus who was vilified in death…
He was silent, not making any defense..
He was silent, not offering any request.
He was silent, not giving any explanation.
He was silent, not voicing any complaint.
And while He would not honor Himself, God did it for Him through a honorable burial and ultimately a resurrection.
Psalms 116:15 “Precious in the sight of the LORD Is the death of His godly ones.”
And God proved that with Christ.
So do you understand here Isaiah’s point?
Yes He was the substitutionary servant.
Yes it was God’s sovereign plan to make Him so.
But He didn’t do it reluctantly.
He didn’t go to the cross kicking and screaming.
He didn’t feel the need to vindicate Himself though God certainly proved He deserved it.
He went to the cross out of love.
He went their willingly.
“No one took His life, with love He gave it. He was crucified on a tree that He created.”
Can you ever question the love of Christ?
When you walk through trials and you are tempted to question His love, remember that He walked through trials and never opened His mouth.
When you are wrongly accused or persecuted and are tempted to question His love, remember that He was wrongly convicted and never opened His mouth.
When you are shamed, scorned, vilified, or humbled and desperately want people to know the truth and you treat your shame as though Christ must not love you, remember that He endured all of that and never opened His mouth.
He loves you.
He proved it by His submission to the cross.
He proved it by His desire for the cross.
This man put you first for every second of His life on earth.
He bore your sin.
He bore your shame.
He bore your arrest.
He bore your trial.
He bore your conviction.
He bore your death.
And He never once tried even a little to get out of it.
He loves you.
Tonight I encourage you to love Him back.
