By Walt Alexander
Today, we will begin reviewing the messages from the summer survival kit. The first message is entitled “The Suffering Servant” by C.J. Mahaney. I heard C.J. preach this message in the summer of 2004 at Celebration East. It was and has remained one of the greatest messages I have ever heard. I have run back to this message numerous times to remind myself of Christ Jesus’ substitutionary death.
To recap, C.J. elaborated on three points in the message from Isaiah 53. In proclaiming the appearance of the suffering servant in verse 1-2, C.J. highlighted the clearly unimpressive background and work of Jesus to human observation. No one – then or now – would see the truth of the cross apart from God revealing it to them. Then, in proclaiming the reality of the death of the suffering servant in verses 3-6, C.J. refused our pleas of innocence and led us to the cross to see what we have done. It was for us and because of our sins that he died. Finally, in proclaiming the significance of the death of the suffering servant, C.J. expounds on the assurance of pardon through the cross that reveals the Father’s love for guilty sinners.
To seek to apply this message, I wanted to ask two simple questions:
Are you filled with joy unspeakable when you consider the suffering servant’s sacrifice? If not, what other joys are robbing the cross of its central place in creating and sustaining joy in your life?
Are you aware and convinced of God’s love? If not, what does it take for God to prove his love to you?
Consider the love of God for sinners by hearing again this quote from the message:
“So great was the Father’s love that when the Son in the Garden of Gethsemane contemplated the cup, looked into the cup, the cup of His wrath that in a matter of hours He would have to drink as our substitute for our sins. So great was the Father’s love for sinners like you and me that when the Savior in contemplating that cup was staggered in his humanity…he was staggered and in effect pinned to the ground as he contemplated God’s righteous, full, furious wrath against sin that would rest upon his body and soul, and he was so staggered that in his humanity he prayed: “Father, would it be possible to remove this cup? Remove this cup from me.” And, here is what the Son heard in response to this request: Silence! “Father, is there an alternate? Father, is there…Can I avoid this?” Silence. Hours later he would hang suspended between heaven and earth and now he wasn’t simply staring into the cup. Now, he was the object of God’s righteous and furious and just wrath against sin. And hanging suspended between heaven and earth, the object of this righteous wrath as a substitute for sinners like you and me, he cries out: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” And, once again, silence.”
Are there any other points that taught you something new from this passage? Any points that were particularly good to hear again?
Have you listened to the message yet? If not, listen here for free:
The Suffering Servant
Listen not to free yourself from condemnation, but to enjoy the grace received from the cross at Calvary.
