Isaiah 53:1-2

1. Thank you for granting me a wonderful two-week vacation in South Korea. It’s been seven years to visit my country since 2017. I had the joy of reconnecting with my family, and we were able to rejuvenate and support one another. I also caught up with friends, and one of them recently became a senior pastor at a Presbyterian church near my mother-in-law’s place. I was honored to attend his commissioning service last Sunday. My parents and my mother-in-law were overjoyed to see my daughter during this time.

2. During my vacation, I was asked about my decade of service to Canadian churches, including those in Pelly and Yorkton. I shared stories of my ministry there, and my Korean friends and family were surprised and encouraged by my experiences. They were especially amazed when I told them about assisting Pastor Hay, as they hadn't realized how fortunate they were to have a good healthcare system. Reflecting on this, I was reminded that even the word "testimony" is a kind of report – a sharing of information, experiences, and lessons learned. Today, I want to explore the concept of a holy report in God's eyes through this sermon. Let me read Isaiah 53:1-2.

Isaiah 53:1–2 (NRSV)

Who has believed what we have heard? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.

3. Isaiah 53, a revered prophecy within the Christian faith, holds profound significance for believers in the 21st century. This chapter vividly portrays the coming Messiah, highlighting the profound suffering he would endure. Written centuries before the birth of Jesus Christ, it remarkably foretells the Messiah's actions and divine purpose. The striking accuracy with which Isaiah 53 predicts Jesus' ministry continues to inspire awe and wonder today.

Isaiah 53:3 (NLT)

He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care.

Isaiah 53:6 (NRSV)

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have all turned to our own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Isaiah 53:7 (NRSV)

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.

4. It paints a poignant picture of the Messiah as one who would be despised and rejected, oppressed and afflicted. Yet, it reveals God's profound plan to lay upon Him the iniquity of us all. For those living in 800 BC, the meaning of this prophecy remained shrouded in mystery. Even upon hearing it, true comprehension would elude them until its fulfillment.

5. Until its realization, the prophecy couldn't be fully embraced as truth. People were perplexed, filled with doubt, and struggled to accept its implications. I can empathize with their mindset, as we often react similarly today. This was mirrored in my recent experiences sharing stories of my life in Canada with friends in Korea. Initially, they had trouble accepting how I could thrive and enjoy my ministry there. Their first concern was racism, and when I told them I rarely encountered it, they were sceptical. However, as I showed them photos and shared personal anecdotes, their doubts began to fade.

6. When the appointed time arrived, God sent His only Son, Jesus Christ the Messiah, into the world. He endured suffering, died, and miraculously rose from the dead, fulfilling God's promise of salvation through His ultimate sacrifice. He became the ransom for all. Even though those in the first century couldn't fully grasp His presence or God's fulfillment through Jesus Christ, God didn't abandon His people. He granted us the New Testament, and through the four Gospels, we gain profound insight into how Jesus fulfilled God's promises.

Luke 1:1–2 NIV

Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word.

Luke 1:3–4 NIV

With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

7. Luke, a second-generation Christian and not an eyewitness to Jesus' life, sought to create an accurate account of Jesus and His ministry. He diligently researched existing reports and compiled his own, also including the story of Jesus' disciples. Through Luke-Acts, we gain a vivid picture of Jesus and witness how His disciples embraced His teachings through their lives and faith. In essence, it serves as a powerful testament to Jesus' impact.

8. Last Sunday, our church held a heartwarming open testimony session during the service. We had the opportunity to share our personal encounters with Jesus, and it was incredibly encouraging to hear each other's stories. But why do we find such strength and inspiration in listening to testimonies? This is because a testimony represents a transformative, life-altering experience. It's not about intellectual knowledge, but a vibrant, living encounter with Jesus. In fact, during the first century, sermons as we know them didn't exist. When early Christians gathered, they shared their testimonies, recounting what they had personally heard and seen about Jesus. They were all eyewitnesses to His ministry. For them, Christianity wasn't a rigid doctrine or a theological system, but a profound new life in Christ. It wasn't about acquiring knowledge, but experiencing the transformative power of Jesus through the Holy Spirit.

Mark 1:1 (NLT)

This is the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.

9. Our lives are woven from the threads of experience, often driven by a desire to not only possess knowledge but also to actively encounter it. These encounters shape our narratives. However, the question remains: how many of us truly experience abstract concepts like justification? We might recognize the term, perhaps associating it with salvation or a legalistic framework. Yet, how often does it manifest as a lived reality? Similarly, with sanctification, our understanding might vary, envisioning it as a transformation of life and actions or a state of holiness attainable only in the afterlife. This prompts a deeper reflection: how do these concepts transcend intellectual understanding and become integral to our personal journeys?

10. When our experiences don't align with our knowledge, the knowledge remains abstract and theoretical. Conversely, when our knowledge fails to support our experiences, we can be led astray. It's crucial that knowledge and experience work in harmony. Consider the antonym of "real." While several possibilities exist, the word "ideal" stands out, as noted by Husserl. The "real" encompasses the tangible, human-made world, the things that have been realized. The "ideal" resides in the realm of thought, ideas, and imagination - the unrealized. This distinction highlights the perceived difficulty of realizing ideals. This contrast prompts a reflection on the relationship between the spiritual and the ideal. Are spiritual pursuits akin to chasing ideals, forever striving for something beyond the tangible world? It's a thought-provoking connection that invites further exploration.

11. When we strive to understand God, we often blur the lines between the spiritual and the ideal. God is not an abstract ideal but a spiritual reality. Yet, we often approach theology as if it were an unattainable ideal, convinced of its inherent complexity. However, theology isn't mere ideology. It's the exploration of the reality of God. Theology is born from our understanding of God, and without that understanding, it remains empty. The spiritual, then, is not about chasing ideals, but about contemplating God and realizing our connection to Him. It's acknowledging our existence within God, made possible through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Therefore, salvation is about an afterlife in heaven and also about experiencing the life of God here on Earth, through our relationship with Jesus.

12. From this perspective, the Bible serves as a powerful testament to God's actions. It chronicles His unwavering commitment to His people, the promise of a Messiah, and the fulfillment of that promise through Jesus Christ. This is precisely why the Good News isn't an abstract ideal, but a tangible spiritual reality. It's rooted in God's work through Jesus, in fact, it is Jesus Himself. The Good News is not a distant concept, but a living, breathing truth that transforms lives.

13. So, I urge you to seek God with a fervent heart, to experience His presence intimately. May we yearn for a personal testimony of His love in our own life. God is love, and in Him, we find true life. Through the love of Jesus, we gain deeper understanding of God. Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we can live a life transformed. God is not a distant ideal, but a living, breathing reality. Let's embrace His path and His promises. Let's walk with Him, empowered by the Holy Spirit.