Introduction:

This week's lesson shows how prophetic gospel book of Isaiah discloses the mission of Jesus, an innocent Son of God who had been born in the flesh and made known to all by the decree of God become the Son of God (Ps. 2:7). EGWhite commented, "Philip was directed to go to the Ethiopian and explain to him the prophecy that he was reading. "Go near," the Spirit said, "and join thyself to this chariot." As Philip drew near, he asked the eunuch, "Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him." The scripture that he was reading was the prophecy of Isaiah relating to Christ: "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened He not His mouth: in His humiliation His judgment was taken away: and who shall declare His generation? for His life is taken from the earth." {AA 107.4}

"Of whom speaketh the prophet this?" the eunuch asked, "of himself, or of some other man?" Then Philip opened to him the great truth of redemption. Beginning at the same scripture, he "preached unto him Jesus." {AA 108.1}

Outline of the Study this week:

A denigrating Manner: Isaiah 50:9-10

From Exaltation to the Cross, and from the Cross to Exaltation: Isaiah 52:13-53:12

Everlasting Salvation of Zion: Isaiah 51

The Suffering Servant:

The Innocent Suffers, Isaiah 52:13-53:2

He Suffered for me, Isaiah 53:3-9

Sin, Dead, and Resurrection, Isaiah 53:10-12

Memory Verse:

“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5, NKJV).

Prayer Thought:

How unmistakably plain were Isaiah's prophecies of Christ's sufferings and death! "Who hath believed our report? "the prophet inquires, "and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. {AA 225.2}

"Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. {AA 226.1}

"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare His generation? for He was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was He stricken." Isaiah 53:1-8. {AA 226.2}

A Denigrating Manner: Isaiah 50:(1-8), 9-11

“I gave My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting.” (Isaiah 50:6)

Thy Saviour and Thy Redeemer

To Isaiah had been revealed a comprehensive view of the plan of salvation. He understood that man was Satan's captive, and also that there is One mightier than the mighty who could take away the prey, and that this One was the Lord, "thy Saviour and thy Redeemer." To the Jew, the word Redeemer was most expressive and meaningful. Sometimes a poor man might sell himself. If so, he could be redeemed, but only by one near of kin. Lev. 25:47-49. The redemption was effected by the kinsman's paying the just demand in full. Lev. 25:27; 1 Peter 1:18, 19. The story of Ruth is a beautiful illustration of redemption. This lesson also brings to view the suffering Saviour. What a wonderful picture is given of His passion! He feels the insults to the quick, but does not draw back. His face is set like a flint; that is, He is determined to go through to the end. The Lord will help Him. They will "stand together." Christ passed through darkness. Let others who may be doing God's will, yet are confronted with difficulties and perplexities, take courage. God is still living.

Deep study by verses:

Verse 1: When Isaiah wrote this, God had not as yet put away His people, Israel. They deserved this treatment, but God was still merciful. Later on He did divorce Israel. Jer. 3: 8. In Isaiah 50:1 God asks for proof that He has put Israel away. The answer, of course, is that He has not put them away, nor sold them to the creditors as was sometimes the custom. Neh. 5:5; 2 Kings 4:1. They had, however, sold themselves. Isa. 52:3.

Verse 2, 3: If I have not put you away, but have called you, how is it that no one responds? Is it because you think My band is shortened so I can not redeem, or that I have no power? God is astonished and perplexed that no one answers His call. He offers the riches of heaven, and men are not interested.

Verse 4: " 'The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister.' Not for Himself, but for others, He lived and thought and 26 prayed. From hours spent with God He came forth morning by morning, to bring the light of heaven to men. Daily He received a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit. In the early hours of the new day the Lord awakened Him from His slumbers, and His soul and His lips were anointed with grace, that He might impart to others. His words were given Him fresh from the heavenly courts, words that He might speak in season to the weary and oppressed."—"Christ's Object Lessons," p. 139. "Words of kindness are as welcome as the smile of angels."— "Ministry of Healing," p. 158.

Verse 5: The ears of the true servant are always open, and those of the rebellious servant are closed. The true servant will hear the word and do it. The wicked servant will not hear. Matt. 7:24-29.

Verses 6, 7: —"Difficulties will arise that will try your faith and patience. Face them bravely. Look on the bright side. . . . Never let your courage fail. Never talk unbelief because appearances are against you. As you work for the Master, you will feel pressure for want of means, but the Lord will hear and answer your petitions for help. Let your language be, 'The Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.' Isa. 50:7. "If you make a mistake, turn your defeat into victory. The lessons that God sends will always, if well learned, bring help in due time. Put your trust in God: Pray much, and believe. Trusting, hoping, believing, holding fast the hand of Infinite Power, you will be more than conquerors."—"Testimonies," Vol. 7, p. 244.

Verse 8: Christ was mocked and condemned by the Jewish Sanhedrin and by Rome. But He knew that though He was condemned by man, God would justify Him. "Let us stand together." With God on his side, who need be afraid? The challenge is issued: "Who is mine adversary? let him come near to me." God is on our side, and victory is sure

Verse 9: Compare with Rom. 8:33, 34

Verse 10: There are those that fear the Lord and obey the voice of His servant, and yet walk in darkness, literally in dark places, that 27 is, in trouble. Many are doing the best they know, and live up to all the light they have, and still are not free from trouble. What shall they do' "Let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God."

Verse 11: The picture is that of a man in darkness, trying to get light by kindling a fire. All that results, however, is a few sparks. Refusing God's light, he tries to make one of his own. But he shall mot succeed. "Many look to their ministers to bring the light from God to them, seeming to think this a cheaper way than to be at the trouble of going to God for it themselves. Such lose much. If they would daily follow Christ, and make Him their guide and counselor, they might obtain a clear knowledge of His will, and thus be gaining a valuable experience. For want of this very experience, brethren professing the truth walk in the sparks of others' kindling; they are unacquainted with the Spirit of God and have not a knowledge of His will, and are therefore easily moved from their faith. They are unstable, because they trusted in others to obtain an experience for them. Ample provisions have been made for every son and daughter of Adam to obtain individually a knowledge of the divine will, to perfect Christian character, and to be purified through the truth. God is dishonored by that class who profess to be followers of Christ, and yet have no experimental knowledge of the divine will or of the mystery of godliness."—"Testimonies," Vol. 2, p. 644.

Notice the following as well:

David's ambassadors were denigrated in 2 Samuel 10. That triggered a war between Israel and Ammon.

However, the most powerful person ever endured jibes and scorn without defending Himself or getting angry (Matthew 26:67-68).

Jesus did not want to come down from the cross to stop the taunts and insults (Matthew 27:38-44). Why?

Everlasting Salvation of Zion: Isaiah 51

It is well sometimes to look back. It helps us not to despise the day of small things. We need to look back to the days of the beginnings of this message, when hardship, toil, and privation were the portion of minister and of people. We are living in an age of extravagance and luxury, and there is danger that we partake of the spirit of the times. What we are, we are by the grace of God. Let us keep to the simplicity of the gospel. The contrast between mortal man and his Maker is clearly brought out in this lesson. Man is like a garment which the moths eat, like a gnat that dies, like wool which the worms eat, like grass which is burned. 'There is very little place in those terms for the doctrine of natural immortality. On the other hand, God's salvation is everlasting, and His righteousness, that is, His character, His law, shall not be abolished.

Digging deep through the verses:

Verse 1: "Righteousness here means, not salvation, but righteousness in conduct, a way of life in accordance with the will of God." It is well, sometimes, to look back on our own personal history and consider where we would be, and what we would be, had not God found us. Looking back on these things would probably make us more humble and more thankful.

Verse 2: "Called him alone," literally "as one," before he had children. "Blessed him." Gen. 24:1. "Increased him," made him father of many nations. Gen. 17:5.

Verse 3: This refers definitely to the new earth state. "Like Eden," like the garden of the Lord. "There we shall know even as also we are known. There the loves and sympathies that God has planted in the soul will find truest and sweetest exercise." Read "Education," pp. 306, 307

Verse 4: "I will make My judgment to rest." A somewhat unusual construction. Judgment is the same word as in Isaiah 42:1, and might be rendered religion, as the Cambridge Bible has it. God, then, will send the true religion to all peoples, and it will be to them for a light.

Verse 5: This verse may rightly, as does the preceding one, have reference to the last days. God's righteousness and salvation are near. He is about to judge the people. The same arm that brings destruction to sinners will bring salvation to the saints.

Verse 6: This verse brings to view the contrast between the things that shall perish and the things that shall remain. The world has this reversed. That which God says shall vanish, men say will stand forever. That which God says shall not be abolished, men professedly believe to be abolished.

Verse 7: Apparently those who have God's law in their heart will be reviled and reproached. "Through Satan's temptations the whole human race have become transgressors of God's law; but by the sacrifice of His Son a way is opened whereby they may return to God. Through the grace of Christ they may be enabled to render obedience to the Father's law. Thus in every age, from the midst of apostasy and rebellion, God gathers out a people that are true to Him—a people 'in whose heart is His law.' "—"Patriarchs and Prophets," p. 338.

Verses 8, 9: .Rahab, literally, the proud one, is symbolically an expression for Egypt. Ps. 89:10, margin. The dragon is another symbol for Egypt. Eze. 29:3. The reference here is to the destruction of Pharaoh's army at the Red Sea. The dragon originally is Satan. Rev. 12:7-9. This term is therefore applied also to the adversaries of God generally.

Verses 10, 11: The reference here is clear to the drying up of the Red Sea, that the Israelites might pass over. Ex. 14:I-22. To what is the prophet's mind now turned? v. 11, This verse is nearly identical with Isaiah 35:10, and furnishes a good illustration of how an event of the past, as Israel's deliverance from Egypt, will suggest the greater deliverance that shall soon come to God's people.

Verses 12-16: —The American Revised Version is a little clearer: "The captive exile shall speedily be loosed; and he shall not die and go down into the pit, neither shall his bread fail." How does God speak of His power? What is His name? Verse 15. Reference is again made to the crossing of the Red Sea. What has God done for His people? What does He say to Zion? Verse 16. The Septuagint renders this verse: "I will put My words into thy mouth, and I will shelter thee under the shadow of Mine hand, with which I fixed the sky, and founded the earth; and the Lord shall say to Zion; Thou art My people." "The knowledge of God that works transformation of character is our great need. If we fulfill His purpose, there must be in our lives a revelation of God that shall correspond to the teaching of His word."— "Testimonies," Vol. 8, p. 329.

From Exaltation to the Cross and From the Cross to Exaltation: Isaiah (51:17)-52:13-53:12

The first picture presented to us in the lesson is that of Jerusalem figured as a woman lying drunk and senseless, unable to help herself. She has drunk to the very dregs the cup of the Lord's indignation, and no one can help her. The second picture is much more encouraging. Zion is asked to awake, put on her strength and her beautiful garments. God will cleanse and beautify His church, and henceforth no unclean thing shall enter. The third picture is that of the gospel proclamation to the whole world. God's people are united. They sing together. They are one. And God is baring His holy arm for them. They have left Babylon; they are "clean." God goes before them, and victory is assured.

Search the gems of truth by verses:

Verse 17: The prophet here by anticipation speaks of .he destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, and the resulting calamities. 2 Kings 25:8-11; compare Jer. 42:18.

Verses 18-20: "None to guide." When Jerusalem was destroyed and most of the people taken into captivity, the leaders were also taken. Not a few people remained in the land, but there were no leaders. When Jeremiah and Baruch were taken to Egypt, there was none left. Jer. 43:5-7. "These two things." "Desolation," or wasting produced by the "famine" within the city; and "destruction," produced by the "sword" without the city.

Verses 21-23: "Thy God that pleadeth the cause of His people." This can be none other than Christ. "I have taken out of thine hand the cup." God will take the cup away from Jerusalem, and give it to the nations that afflicted her. These have trampled upon His people, and now retribution comes.

Isa. 52:1: The church is here bidden to put on her strength and the beautiful garments of Christ's righteousness. "Souls are perishing out of Christ, and those who profess to be Christ's disciples are letting them die. Our brethren have talents entrusted to them for the very work of saving souls; but some have bound these up in a napkin, and buried them in the earth. How much do such idlers resemble the angel who is represented as flying in the midst of heaven, proclaiming the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus/ What manner of entreaty can be brought to bear upon the idlers that will arouse them to go to work for the Master? What can we say to the slothful church member to make him realize the necessity of unearthing his talent and putting it out to the exchangers? There will be no idler, no slothful one, found inside the kingdom of heaven. 0 that God would set this matter in all its importance before the sleeping churches! O that Zion would arise and put on her beautiful garments. 0 that she would shine!"—"Testimonies," Vol. 6, p. 434

Verse 2: "Shake thyself from the dust." Get rid of all sin. "Loose thyself from the bands of thy neck," literally, the bands of thy neck are unloosened; that is, I have caused thy chains to fall from thee. 6. For what had they sold themselves? How shall they be redeemed?

Verse 3: "The enemy is buying souls to-day very cheap. 'Ye have sold yourselves for a thing of naught,' is the language of Scripture. One is selling his soul for the world's applause, another for money; one to gratify base passions, another for worldly amusements. Such bargains are made daily. Satan is bidding for the purchase of Christ's blood, and buying them cheap, notwithstanding the infinite price which has been paid to ransom them."—"Testimonies," Vol. 5, p. 133.

Verse 4: Israel experienced three captivities. The first when they "went down" into Egypt and were made to serve. Ex. 1:13, 14. The second was the Assyrian captivity. 2 Kings 15: 29; 17:6; 18:13. The third is the Babylonian captivity, referred to in Isaiah 52:5.

Verses 5, 6: "To the prophet [Isaiah] was given a revelation of the beneficent design of God in scattering impenitent Judah among the nations of earth. 'My people shall know My name,' the Lord declared; 'they shall know in that day that I am He that doth speak.' And not only were they themselves to learn the lesson of obedience and trust; in their places of exile they were also to impart to others a knowledge of the living God. Many from among the sons of the strangers were to learn to love Him as their Creator and their Redeemer; they were to begin the observance of His holy Sabbath day as a memorial of His creative power; and when He should make 'bare His holy arm in the eyes of all the nations,' to deliver His people from captivity, 'all the ends of the earth' should see of the salvation of God. Many of these converts from heathenism would wish to unite themselves fully with the Israelites, and accompany them on the return journey to Judea." "Prophets and Kings," pp. 371, 372.

Verse 7: The good tidings referred first to the news to Israel in Babylon that they were free to leave the land of their captivity and return to the land of Judea. It is also the gospel proclamation: good tidings, peace, good tidings of good, salvation. "Thy God reigneth!" God is still ruling in the affairs of men. It may seem that things are going to pieces, that evil is triumphant and the right is perverted. But be of good cheer. "Thy God reigneth!"

Verse 8: "Never was there so great a diversity of faith in Christendom as at the present day. If the gifts [Eph. 4:11-13] were necessary to preserve the unity of the primitive church, how much more so to restore unity now And that it is the purpose of God to restore the unity of the church in the last days, is abundantly evident from the prophecies. We are assured that the watchmen shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion. Also, that in the time of the end the wise shall understand. When this is fulfilled there will be unity of faith with all whom God accounts wise; for those that do in reality understand aright, must necessarily understand alike. What is to effect this unity but the gifts that are given for this very purpose II"— "Early Writings," p. 140

Verse 9: God's ministers must be holy, clean. So must His people. This scripture applies to ministers and people. "The church will rarely take a higher stand than is taken by her ministers. We need a converted ministry and a converted people. Shepherds who watch for souls as they that must give account will lead the flock on in paths of peace and holiness. Their success in this work will be in proportion to their own growth in grace and knowledge of the truth. When the teachers are sanctified, soul, body, and spirit, they can impress upon the people the importance of such sanctification."—"Testimonies," Vol. 5, p. 227.

Verse 12. "Not go out with haste." This refers first to the departure from Babylonian captivity, as described in Ezra; but the scripture also has a wider application. God wants His people to be ready, and to do deliberately and with forethought that 'which needs to be done. God is not in a hurry, and He will go before us. He will also be our rearward. The final triumph of His people at Christ's coming shall likewise be a complete victory in full sight of the nations.

Compare with Philippians 2:5-11

This section begins with the Servant being exalted, then He is humiliated and killed, and He's finally exalted again.

This descent-ascent journey is the same that Paul describes in Philippians 2:5-11 (exaltation-humiliation-exaltation).

The Innocent Suffers, Isaiah 52:13-53:2

“Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” (Isaiah 53:1)

Life of Christ: From Manger to Calvary

"It would be well to spend a thoughtful hour each day reviewing the life of Christ from the manger to Calvary. We should take it point by point, and let the imagination vividly grasp each scene, especially the closing ones of His earthly life. By thus contemplating His teachings and sufferings, and the infinite sacrifice made by Him for the redemption of the race, we may strengthen our faith, quicken our love, and become more deeply imbued with the spirit which sustained our Saviour."—"Testimonies," Vol. 4, p: 374. The wrong views which the Jews held in regard to sin and suffering helped decidedly to cause them to reject Christ. If any man suffered, it was clear to them that he must be a great sinner. God knew this, and in the fifty-third chapter of Isaiah corrects the idea. Christ was indeed smitten of God, but it was for our sake; He was scourged, but it was that we might be healed. Help on this lesson may be found in "Testimonies," Vol. 2, pages 200-215.

Consideration by Verses

Isaiah 52:13: "My Servant shall deal wisely."—American Revised Version. The word here used primarily means wisely, but it also includes the success which is normally the result of wise action; hence the margin has "prosper." Christ did deal wisely in all acts of life. Wisely He chose His disciples not from the rich or learned, lest it be said that influence or learning was the cause of His remarkable success. Wisely He refused to be made king, lest ambition be laid to His charge. Wisely He hid His divinity and did most of His miracles unnoticed, so that the supernatural should not have undue influence in deciding men. Wisely He submitted Himself to civil authority. Wisely He answered subtle questions and avoided others. Wisely He dealt with the erring and downtrodden. No unwise word or action has ever been laid to His charge,—not even by His enemies. "Shall be exalted." Christ was highly exalted. Phil. 2:9-11.

Verse 14: —The word "astonied" expresses the thought of blank amazement, mingled with horror, aroused in those who should behold the Saviour's extreme anguish and suffering. "He bore insult, mockery, and shameful abuse, until His 'visage was so marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men.' "Who can comprehend the love here displayed! The angelic host beheld with wonder and with grief. Him who had been the Majesty of heaven, and who bad worn the crown of glory, now wearing the crown of thorns, a bleeding victim to the rage of an infuriated mob, fired to insane madness by the wrath of Satan. Behold the patient Sufferer! Upon His head is the thorny crown. His lifeblood flows from every lacerated vein. All this in consequence of sin! Nothing could have induced Christ to leave His honor and majesty in heaven, and come to a sinful world, to be neglected, despised, and rejected, by those He came to save, and finally to suffer upon the cross, but eternal, redeeming love, which will ever remain a mystery."—"Testimonies," Vol. 2, p. 207.

Verse 15: —This verse speaks of the results of Christ's humiliation. "So shall He sprinkle many nations," rather, "startle." The American Revised Version, putting verses 14 and 15 together, reads, "Like as many were astonished at Thee (His visage was so marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men), so shall He startle [astonish] many nations." (See margin.) It should be an astonishing thing that from such an act, the suffering and death of an innocent person, should come such wonderful results. "Kings shall shut their mouths at Him," in reverence, as princes did in the case of Job before calamity came upon him. Job 29:8, 9.

Isa. 53:1, 2: In the Old Testament it was required that the sacrifice should be perfect, without blemish. Lev. 1:3; 6:6. Concerning Christ's personal appearance, read "Early Writings," page 172. It was in the spiritual rather than in the physical sense that the Jews rejected Christ. If He had come as a prince and received honor of men; if He had used His miraculous power to free them from the Roman yoke; if He would even continue to feed them as He had done with the five thousand, they might have accepted Him. "For more than a thousand years the Jewish people had waited the coming of the promised Saviour. Their brightest hopes had rested upon this event. For a thousand years, in song and prophecy, in temple rite and household prayer, His name had been enshrined; and yet when He came, they did not recognize Him as the Messiah for whom they had so long waited. 'He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.' To their world-loving hearts, the Beloved of heaven was 'as a root out of a dry ground.' In their eyes He had 'no form nor comeliness;' they discerned in Him no beauty that they should desire Him."—"Prophets and Kings," p. 710

Note the following as well:

This Servant (Jesus) was blameless, but still suffered (like Job). Why do many innocent people suffer? This question is left hanging in the air.

The key question is: Who is willing to believe what was foretold?

Those who believe will experience the saving power of God. The same hand that delivered Israel from Egypt will deliver everyone who believes from death. Do you believe?

He Suffered for me, Isaiah 53:3-9

“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)

Study Deeper into the verses:

Verse 3: "Mark the humble life of the Son of God. . . . Behold His ignominy, His agony in Gethsemane, and learn what self-denial is. Are we suffering want? so was Christ, the Majesty of heaven. But His poverty was for our sakes. Are we ranked among the rich? so was He. But He consented for our sakes to become poor, that we through His poverty might be made rich. In Christ we have self-denial exemplified. His sacrifice consisted not merely in leaving the royal courts of heaven, in being tried by wicked men as a criminal and pronounced guilty, and in being delivered up to die as a malefactor, but in bearing the weight of the sins of the world. The life of Christ rebukes our indifference and coldness."—"Testimonies," Vol. 3, p. 407

Verse 4: Matt. 8:16, 17: "The Majesty of heaven pleased not Himself. Whatever He did was in reference to the salvation of man. Selfishness in all its forms stood rebuked in His presence. He assumed our nature that He might suffer in our stead, making His soul an offering for sin. He was stricken of God and afflicted to save man from the blow which he deserved because of the transgression of God's law. By the light shining from the cross, Christ proposed to draw all men unto Him. His human heart yearned over the race. His arms were opened to receive them, and He invited all to come to Him. His life on earth was one continued act of self-denial and condescension."—"Testimonies," Vol. 4, p. 418. Isa. 53:4, It was generally believed by the Jews that sin is punished in this life. Every affliction was regarded as the penalty of some wrongdoing, either of the sufferer himself or of his parents. It is true that all suffering results from the transgression of God's law, but this truth had become perverted. Satan, the author of sin and all its results, had led men to look upon disease and death as proceeding from God,—as punishment arbitrarily inflicted on account of sin. Hence, one upon whom some great affliction or calamity had fallen had the additional burden of being regarded as a great sinner. "Thus the way was prepared for the Jews to reject Jesus. He who 'hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows,' was looked upon by the Jews as 'stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted;' and they hid their faces from Him."—"The Desire of Ages," pp. 470, 471.

Verse 5: "Christ was treated as we deserve, that we might be treated as He deserves. He was condemned for our sins, in which He had no share, that we might be justified by His righteousness, in which we had no share. He suffered the death which was ours, that we might receive the life which was His. 'With His stripes we are healed' "— "The Desire of Ages," p. 25.

2 Cor. 1:3-7: God comforts us in our tribulation, with the intent "that we may be able to comfort" others. According to this, some are afflicted for the "consolation and salvation" of others.

Verse 6: This should be a great comfort to many who wonder why God sends certain afflictions to them. Remember, dear one, there may be some poor struggling soul going through deep waters whom God is preparing you to help by causing you to go through afflictions that will make you more understanding and sympathetic. So do not despair. God is giving you certain experiences that will make you a better worker, a better Christian

Verses 7-9: God gave us a Child, a Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). However, they went to war against Him. He was judged for no reason, He was condemned like a criminal—although He had never sinned—, and He was mistreated.

Who was His enemy? Who did this? The answer to this question is clear and painful: WE ALL DID (Isaiah 53:6).

Because of God’s love, His Messiah would choose to suffer. He would choose to suffer in order to reach the unreachable, and the unreachable are us!

Sin, Dead, and Resurrection, Isaiah 53:10-12

“When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.” (Isaiah 53:10)

Christ's Suffering, Death and Resurrection

The suffering, death, and resurrection of Christ must ever be vital in the life and message of every Christian: The subject of the atonement can never grow old. Righteousness by faith rightly understood and practiced is needed more than ever. "The proud heart strives to earn salvation; but both our title to heaven and our fitness for it are found in the righteousness of Christ. The Lord can do nothing toward the recovery of man until, convinced of his own weakness, and stripped of all self-sufficiency, he yields himself to the control of God. Then he can receive the gift that God is waiting to bestow. From the soul that feels his need, nothing is withheld. He has unrestricted access to Him in whom all fullness dwells. Isa. 57:15."—"The Desire of Ages," p. 300. Contemplation of the last scenes in the life of Christ will draw the soul nearer to God. This lesson should serve that purpose.

Heavy Burden of Sin

When a whole flock goes astray, it is generally because the leaders have gone astray. Let the first sheep lead the way, and all the rest follow. While God does not excuse those who have thus gone after their own way, He understands that the chief responsibility is upon the leaders. "The Lord bath laid on Him the iniquity of us all." "Whether they know it or not, all are weary and heavy-laden. All are weighed down with burdens that only Christ can remove. The heaviest burden that we bear is the burden of sin. If we were left to bear this burden, it would crush us. But the Sinless One has taken our place. . . . He has borne the burden of our guilt. He will take the load from our weary shoulders. He will give us rest. The burden of care and sorrow also He will bear. He invites us to cast all our care upon Him; for He carries us upon His heart."—"The Desire of Ages," pp. 328, 329.

Death on Calvary

The word denotes harsh, cruel, and arbitrary treatment, such as that of a slave driver. The same word is used in Exodus 3:7. "As a lamb to the slaughter." Christ's trial was neither just nor legal. It was not an execution but a slaughter. "He opened not His mouth." "Patiently Jesus listened to the conflicting testimonies. No word did He utter in self-defense. At last His accusers were entangled, confused, and maddened. The trial was making no headway; it seemed that their plottings were to fail. Caiaphas was desperate. One last resort remained; Christ must be forced to condemn Himself. The high priest started from the judgment seat, his face contorted with passion, his voice and demeanor plainly indicating that were it in his power he would strike down the prisoner before him. 'Answerest Thou nothing?' he exclaimed; 'what is it which these witness against Thee?' Jesus held His peace."— "The Desire of Ages," p. 706. The power of silence! Many people understand the power of words, of oratory. Few understand the power of silence. And yet it is just as important to know when not to speak as to know when to speak.

Matt. 27:12-14; Luke 23:8, 9. "Herod was irritated by this silence. It seemed to indicate utter indifference to his authority. To the vain and pompous king, open rebuke would have been less offensive than to be thus ignored. Again he angrily threatened Jesus, who still remained unmoved and silent. . . . Christ's silence was the severest rebuke that He could have given."—Id., p. 730.

A paraphrase of this verse might read: "They did away with Him unjustly, and who of His generation cared? 'He was cut off out of the land of the living for the transgression of my people to whom the stroke was due.' " See American Revised Version.

The preceding verse states that Christ was unjustly condemned, and verse 7 calls the judicial murder a "slaughter." This verse emphasizes the fact that Christ was sinless, that He had done no violence, and that there was no deceit in Him. Had the leaders in Israel diligently studied the prophecies, they could not but have seen the parallel between Christ and Isaiah 53. They would have known that Isaiah spoke of One who should be condemned unjustly, who should patiently take the insults offered, who should not retaliate or open His mouth in His defense. And when at last the rich Joseph buried Him, had they read the prophecies they could but have seen the climax of what was foretold.

Verses 10: "It pleased the Lord." It was by "the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God" (Acts 2:23) that Christ suffered. It was according. to the plan laid from eternity. "His soul an offering for sin." Christ "made Himself an offering for sin, that we might be justified before God through Him."—"Testimonies," Vol. 4, p. 374. Now when we shall present that offering before God, "He shall see His seed," that is, we shall then be reckoned among "the seed," we shall be "heirs according to the promise." Gal. 3:29; Ps. 22:30. Christ "shall see His seed" among His true followers. "He shall prolong His days." This is the resurrection. He shall live again.

Verse 11, first part. Christ shall see "the travail of His soul," that is, those for whom He labored and suffered. "Then, in the results of His work, Christ will behold its recompense. In that great multitude which no man could number, presented 'faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,' He whose blood has redeemed and whose life has taught us, 'shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied.' "—"Education," p. 309.

Verse 11, last part. The American Revised Version reads, "By the knowledge of Himself shall My righteous Servant justify many." The knowledge spoken of here is the knowledge of experience. Christ was made a perfect Saviour by the things He suffered. Heb. 2:10. To really know Christ, that is, to know Him as we ought, is eternal life (John 17:3) ; but such knowledge is gained only by experience. (See Phil. 3:10, 11.)

Verse 12: The picture here is of a conqueror returning from battle and dividing the spoil. Men here make themselves a name by their heroism and valor, and so Christ also is to be given "a name which is above every name." Phil. 2:9. His "spoil" is the souls He has won in battle. And this victory is won and this reward given "because He hath poured out His soul unto death."

Jesus is “the Lamb of God” (John 1:29). He offered Himself to expiate our sins. He died so we can be free from eternal death.

His resurrection guarantees our own. We are the “seed”, “the labor of His soul”. Believe this message, and the supreme sacrifice of Jesus will be worth it. He will feel satisfied when He'll see us entering the gates of the New Jerusalem.