The Big Story

Part I: Description of the Servant Isaiah 52:13-14, 53:1-3 See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted. Just as there were many who were appalled at him—his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness…Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?…He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces, he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Discussion 1. Read Isaiah 52:13. How is the Servant described? 2. Read 52:14-53:3. How does the description of the Servant change? What does He look like? How is He treated? Think about it: The first description is in the future tense, “will be exalted,” and the second description is in the past tense, “was afflicted.” Part II: Suffering of the Servant Isaiah 53:4-9 Surely, he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 8…For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished. 9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. Discussion 1. Compare the people with the Servant: • Read verse 6. How are people described? • Read verse 7. What animal is the Servant compared to? • What is the difference between how the people and the Servant are described? Part III: Accomplishment of the Servant Isaiah 53:10-12 Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand. 11 After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. Discussion 1. Read verse 10. Whose plan is it to crush the servant? Why? 2. Look at verses 5 and 10-11. What will the Servant accomplish through his sacrifice? ________________________________________ Break-out Pivot: Sacrifice Chart Directions: In groups, fill in the chart by writing the correct letter in the blank spaces using the word bank. We will come back together as one group and go through the questions again to clarify the right answers. (Insert Chart) Word Bank (Insert Word Bank) Compare & Contrast Questions 1. How is the sacrifice of the Servant different? 2. How is the Servant’s death connected to the sacrifices we have talked about before? ________________________________________ 3. Compare Isaiah 53:8-9 and Isaiah 52:13; 53:11-12: What will happen to the Servant first? What will happen to the Servant second? (Insert Verse Table: Isaiah 53:8-9 and Isaiah 52:13; 53:11-12) 4. Read verse 12. Who is the Servant? How does the Servant accomplish the restoration of the kingdom? • What are spoils? • What does the Servant-King fight against? How does He fight against sin and death? • What are the “spoils” that the Servant-King wins? 5. Look at verse 12. What will the Servant-King do for the people? 6. How is the Servant-King the greater Son of Man (Adam, Abraham, and David)? (Insert Verse Table: 2 Samuel 7:12-14) Key Lesson Question: How can you be restored to right relationship with God in the kingdom of God?   Leader Guide Objective: To describe the Servant, trace the progression from the First Sacrifice of Genesis 3:21 to the Final Sacrifice of the Servant-King as the greater Sacrifice, and articulate the Servant as the greater Son-King who will defeat death according to the prophecy of Genesis 3:15 Response: We can be restored to the kingdom of God by the Servant’s sacrifice through confessing our sin and believing in the coming Servant-King. Review Activity: Refer to the lesson and lesson materials for additional guidance. Review 1. How is the promised Son-King different from other human kings? • The promised Son-King is different because His rule is eternal over an eternal kingdom. Unlike other human kings, He will not have an end to His reign. The reason He will reign forever is that He is both the Son of God and the flesh and blood son of David. The Son-King will be both fully God and fully human. 2. What will the Son-King do? • He will restore all nations to the kingdom of God as promised to Abraham and Adam and Eve. This promise is for mankind. God will plant a greater Eden where God dwells with His people and rules from His throne (restored kingdom)! Introduction (10 mins): Refer to the lesson. Lesson 8 (40-45 mins): Part I: Description of the Servant (Isaiah 52:13-14, 53:1-3) 1. Read Isaiah 52:13. How is the Servant described? • The servant is described as wise and exalted.