We turn once again this morning to Isaiah chapter 53. Isaiah 53, who hath believed our report? 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. 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. 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. And he made his grave with the wicked and with the rich in his death. Because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him. He hath put him to grief. When thou shalt 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. Now the last two verses of this chapter are our text this morning. And boys and girls, you realize that the last several weeks Isaiah's been pointing us to the terrible sufferings of Jesus, hasn't he? He's been prophesying of those sufferings. Well, you know what follows the sufferings, what follows that death. That's why we're here today, the resurrection of our Lord and Savior. He arose again from the dead. And here in verses 11 and especially 12, the prophet Isaiah prophesies of that event in its significance. He shall see of the travail of his soul and shall be satisfied. By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many, for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great. And he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he hath poured out his soul unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors, and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. Friday evening, as we consider the 10th verse of this chapter, we we were introduced to Christ's reward of prosperity. For his perfect obedience and sacrifice on behalf of his people and in fulfillment of his Father's good pleasure, God promised he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hands. As I said in verses 11 and 12, the prophet continues his inspired description of the glorious effects of Christ's obedience and satisfaction. He is now the exalted Redeemer. And that's our theme this morning. He's exalted through suffering, he's satisfied in exaltation, and he's exalted for a purpose. Isaiah prophesies as Jehovah's mouthpiece. And as he prophesies, the promise that he gives, now fulfilled, is that the Redeemer shall be exalted through his suffering. Isaiah speaks of the travail of his soul, and in verse 12, of pouring out his soul unto death. And while here the word soul has reference to a man's life, as is often the case in Scripture, the meaning is evident. Our salvation costs Jesus much travail of soul. Before the Son became flesh, He knew what it would cost Him to save sinners. To save us. Our Lord Jesus made no blind bargain. He gave Himself willingly for our sakes. He travailed that we might be saved. And usually when we think of travail, we think of a mother giving birth. The word here is different, but it carries much the same idea. To travail is to labor with intensity, to labor under pain, to labor with a purpose. It isn't necessary, again, to review the sufferings of Christ. We've considered those sufferings from many different perspectives in the past few weeks, as we've considered Isaiah 53. We've seen the travail. The focus this morning is on the intensity and end of those suffering. From the intensity of those sufferings, we cannot help but see the seriousness of our sin. You see, in Christ's travail, it was no easy matter to reconcile sinners unto God. It costs Jesus a life of suffering, a painful, shameful, accursed death, an amazing sense of the wrath of God. It costs Jesus his own precious blood to reconcile us unto God, which tells us that when we take sin lightly, we hold the blood of Jesus in low esteem. When we count sin a little thing, when we can commit so-called little sins freely, talking back to parents, speaking cutting words one to another, or listening to slander without rebuking the person who speaks that slander, lying, and so on. When we can do those things repeatedly and not even think about it, we're acting as if the blood of Christ has little value. That's the seriousness, by the way, of the great departure in the church world today from the truth of man's sinfulness and total depravity. The key words in our day are not sin and sinfulness, not sinful relationships, Rather, those terms are replaced with low self-esteem, codependency, and so on and so forth. The truth of scripture has been set aside for the opinions of worldly psychology. And the seriousness of that departure is exactly the downplaying of Christ's travail. with no more consciousness of sin. What reason is there to speak of the blood of Golgotha being ransom for our sin? That's why all Pelagianism and Arminianism leads ultimately to the rejection of the cross of Jesus Christ. When we read here of the travail of Jesus' soul, let's understand, God would show us what it is to break his commandments, what it is to sin against him. It was because of our sins that Jesus had to suffer such intense suffering. But not only was that suffering intense, it was for a purpose. The sharpness and intensity of his pains were all suffered with a view to their end, the satisfaction of God's justice. For the sake of those people for whom Christ died, and those people therefore whose sin had separated themselves from the love of God. To glorify God was the end of Christ's suffering. You see, beloved, the mystery of the atonement, the mystery of Calvary, is not something merely for you and for me. It was not even the purpose of Christ that all who see Golgotha come to feel themselves lost and kneel at the cross wanting salvation. In fact, that work of Jesus at Golgotha will not even profit you if your only desire is to be saved. If the desire to be saved has no higher end in view, That's only selfishness, not godliness. To be saved for whom? For what? To what end? Merely to escape a never-ending punishment? Do you want to be saved merely to experience an unending life of great enjoyment? Well, what is such a desire but self-seeking? If that's all you see in Calvary, you don't know the fruit of salvation, the fruit of godliness. For God's sake, not ours, salvation must come. Not we, but God has been robbed by our sin. And therefore not to ourselves, but to God must satisfaction be made. and must glory be given. When we believe that, then you have the life, not of selfishness, but of love. A life which also strives to walk in God's way and uphold his truth to his glory. Because for the glory of God and his righteousness, Christ walked to Golgotha and made satisfaction for our sin. Because God in mercy and unfathomable grace would form a people to show forth His praise. His people must glorify Him. And that begins with the work of Christ and His wonderful travail of soul for His great love for God. We are saved. He suffered, he died, and was buried. But that wasn't the end. Not by any means. Truly Christ arose. Because he poured out his soul unto death, because he, for God's sake, was numbered with the transgressors, bearing their sin and making intercession for them. Our Redeemer has been exalted, Lord of lords and King of kings. Head over all things in the church, which is His body. That's the joy of the glorious resurrection. Christ arose from the dead. So began His exaltation. We, God's believing people, know The Bible testifies of the truth, and the Bible is true. The testimony of the spirit through the word has been sanctified to our hearts. Jesus arose from the dead bodily. Not only was there the silent witness of the empty tomb, there was also the preaching of the angels, heard not just by one, but by many. Not only that. but also the risen Lord appeared on at least 10 occasions recorded in the scriptures. More than 500 witnesses saw the risen Redeemer. Even Thomas, who at first was unbelieving with respect to Jesus' resurrection, was given to see the Lord and to confess the wonder that Christ had risen again from the dead. And He confessed with conviction of heart, My Lord and My God, the Lord is risen indeed. Our faith shall not be disturbed because it's grounded in the Word of Truth, the firm foundation of reality. We know that Jesus is risen and we know Because the virtues of the cross are realized in us by His Spirit. So that we know experientially the power of the resurrection. The life of Christ now is ours. And that's really what marks the life of a Christian. But beloved, to speak of experiencing the power of the resurrection, means that we have to say more than simply that Jesus arose. What real comfort could we take from the mere knowledge of the historical fact of the resurrection if we didn't have a spiritual understanding of its significance? The fact of a dead man's resurrection might strike us with amazement. But there are many happenings that amaze us, and we soon forget them. There's no comfort in the mere historical fact as such. The scriptures therefore tell us not only did Jesus arise from the dead, but they also reveal to us the necessity and the significance of his resurrection both for Christ and for all who belong to him by faith. That's revealed in the text before us. Because of the travail of his soul, he shall see. See what? He sees a wonderful thing. He sees a people who by nature were dead in their sin under the condemnation of God's wrath. He sees them raised with him and set with him in heaven. He sees his people, a great family of the redeemed, conformed according to his very image. made like Him. He sees them with the full abiding love of His own heart. He sees the fruits of His work. That's the significance of the resurrection. He sees you who believe. And He sees all His people. They are justified. They are being sanctified by His Spirit. They offer themselves up with godly lives as spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. You see, the resurrection life of Christ must be seen in you and me if we are to claim to belong to Jesus. Because the text makes clear, he sees the glory of God reflected in his people. And so we read that he's satisfied in his exaltation. Behind the idea of being satisfied is that of a great desire. The exalted redeemer shall be satisfied, even as God himself is satisfied with the work of his Son. The exalted Redeemer shall be satisfied in seeing the fruits of his own work, the fruits for which his soul travailed. The song of Psalm 40 was sung prophetically by Christ himself, even as we read in Hebrews chapter 10, then said I, lo, I come. In the volume of the book it is written of me. I delight to do thy will, O my God. Yea, thy law is within my heart. I have preached righteousness in the great congregation. Lo, I have not refrained my lips, O Lord, thou knowest. I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart. I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation. I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth. from the great congregation. That was the delight of God's suffering servant. And so Jesus said to his disciples in John 4, verse 34, my meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. So Isaiah is given to proclaim prophetically, he shall see of the travail of his soul and shall be satisfied. He shall see that God has been glorified in the satisfaction of his justice by the perfect obedience of his own dear son. And so the son is satisfied. because he's accomplished the work that he's come to do. His church has been purchased and redeemed by his suffering and death, by his perfect obedience. He has reconciled us unto God. As he now sits in the heavens, it's his rejoicing to see his work thrive. He says to the Father, again Hebrews 2 verse 12, interpreting Psalm 22 verse 22, I will declare thy name unto my brethren. In the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. When he sees his gospel prevail in power, when sins are pardoned and lives are sanctified, When his people enter into his joy, the exalted Redeemer is satisfied because God is glorified. And Christ says, behold, I and the children whom thou hast given me. That concerning his satisfaction, first of all. But secondly, he shall be satisfied because by the knowledge of him, many shall be justified by him. How many today who claim to be Christian are destroyed for lack of knowledge? The prophecy of Hosea is seen working its way through. I just read this past week that the Pew Research Center has found that just over 70% of Americans consider themselves Christian. And you know, in the past generation, that's a significant decline. Because only about a generation ago, say 20, 25 years ago, it was 89% who consider themselves Christian. But even 70%, you have to ask, what does it mean to be a Christian? What does it mean to be a Christian? For many, the Christ after whom they named themselves is merely a figment of their imagination. Where is their worship of him? Where are the lives of godliness? If they served the Christ of the scriptures, who is also the Lord of glory, Their lives and their confessions would certainly be different. And what will be said of us? Yes, we worship the Lord more than once a year on Easter. Or maybe twice, Christmas and Easter. But what does it mean to be a Christian? Many have a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof. Even as Paul wrote to Timothy, we have to submit to the righteousness of Christ. We have to know Him. Christianity's salvation is not merely that Christ accomplished in his person all that was necessary to salvation. Christ has ordained that inseparably connected to his work, and part of his work, is the fruit, which is his life, which is seen in the faith of them for whom he died. I mentioned Hosea's prophecy, Hosea 4 verse 6. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge, because thou hast rejected knowledge. I will also reject thee. Knowledge is necessary. And knowledge will be seen in those who are recipients of Christ's atoning death. because he shall surely justify many. That's a sure promise. They shall be justified by faith. But the element of faith that's on the foreground here is that of knowledge. Do you know him? Do you know him as he reveals himself in his word? Do you know him as he speaks to you through the gospel? There are multitudes who have a semblance of religious knowledge, but it's not the true knowledge of faith. To them, the death and resurrection of Christ serves nothing but their greater condemnation, because they trample underfoot his sacred blood and reject his word every day. There are many before whom Christ has been raised. Christ has been set before them. Isaiah is very bold, writes Paul in Romans 10 verses 20 and 21. And saith, I was found of them that sought me not, I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me, but to Israel, he saith. All day long have I stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people. and that of which I speak was even pictured in the nation of Israel. In the history, you recall that during one of their times of apostasy and rebellion against Moses and against God, God sent poisonous serpents which bit them with a bite of destruction. The reference is Numbers chapter 21, and you children will remember this story. God commanded Moses to make a serpent of brass and to put it on a pole. And those who were bitten and would look upon that brazen serpent would live. And John tells us in John 3 verse 14, that that serpent that Moses formed and raised up was a picture of Christ. Christ was set before them all. Christ in the necessity of paying for the sins of his people. For removing from them that judgment unto death. but many paying no attention to him perished in the wilderness. Yet those who looked upon him were saved. And Jesus said in John 3 verses 14 and 15, and as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. When the gospel is preached, there's nothing obscure. Christ is set before all. Either a man's eyes are blinded or else he receives knowledge of the grace of God which is in Christ Jesus. That's the fruit of God's work through the crucified and exalted Christ. Our righteousness is not by the law. Our righteousness is by the faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe as we read in Romans 3 verse 22. the exalted Lord Christ is given all power even to reign in the hearts and minds of his people. Because he bore their iniquity, he shall be satisfied with the lives of those for whom he died. And the purpose for it all is that He, the risen Christ, exalted in the heavens, might divide the spoil with the strong. Now what is that spoil? Well, you remember that the Bible often speaks of the spoils of war. And that's the idea here. And there's reason that the prophet uses such language. He views the work of our Redeemer as warfare. Christ's work of atoning for our sins was exactly that. A spiritual warfare. He fought the battle that no one else could fight and win. There was another warrior in the Old Testament who stood as a type of Christ. Do you remember who that warrior king was, boys and girls? That's right, it was David. You remember David was the warrior king. And from the time he stood in the strength of the Spirit, and took on that giant Goliath, he made his name as a fighter. And as the great king of Israel, he conquered his enemies by many battles. David was a bloody man. And for that reason, he was unable to build God's temple. He wanted to, but God wouldn't let him. Solomon, the prince of peace, had to do that. Solomon had to picture another aspect of the majesty of Christ. The Prince of Peace. But David was a warrior. The battles that he fought were often fierce. And there were times when it looked like he would be defeated. But he always came out on top. But you know, there was one enemy that David could not conquer. Because David, being a type of Christ, was only a type. And the type inevitably fails. The enemy that David could not conquer was death. Death. David, the mighty king that he was, was himself subject to death. And so are we. When our text, therefore, speaks of Christ's warfare, it speaks of that tremendous battle that he waged on our behalf over against that enemy over which we had no power. In order to fight that battle, it was necessary that he enter death's powerful grip. He had to go right into death's fortress, as it were. And there he had to love God perfectly. Christ was obedient. He fought that battle in perfect obedience. Even unto the death of the cross, the Lord laid all our sins and iniquities upon Him. All our guilt. Death laid hold of Him. The wages of sin. He poured out His soul. By doing so, in perfect obedience and humility, in love for God, He gained the victory that even David could not accomplish. Our Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ, conquered all our enemies. Not only did he bring the devil and the wicked world to defeat, he conquered sin and death and the grave. The enemies became the spoil. And all that had been in the hands of the enemies became the spoil. The prince of the world was cast out. Now do you get the picture? Christ arose from the grave, laden with the spoils of his victory in that spiritual warfare. He was exalted at God's right hand in heavenly glory. given the fullness of the Spirit to divide that spoil with His redeemed people. And not only the spoil, but all the benefits of His atonement. Do you belong to Him by faith? then not only is the righteousness of Jesus Christ yours, but all the benefits of His suffering and all the spoil is rightfully yours in Him. So the Bible teaches us. All things are ours. Who believe in His name and continue to live and to fight the battle of faith and His victorious army. You can name whatever you will, it's ours. Death in the grave, it's ours. It's our servant. It's no longer our master. Satan and the world of which he's prince, oh, it's ours. Yes, we must still fight him. The antithesis of God's kingdom must yet be seen in this world for a little while. And those who will be faithful soldiers must always be seen as such. Satan's a powerful enemy, but don't forget, he's a defeated enemy. We go forth in the victory of the resurrected Christ. You want to consider something else? All things are ours. All is ours. Herbs and grass, rain and drought, fruitful and barren years, meat and drink, they're all ours. Our servants. Christ rules over them all. Gives them to us in perfect wisdom as they serve for our salvation. Health and sickness. Riches and poverty. All is ours who believe. The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, and you being Christ, all things are yours. He owns and governs it all. And they all work together for good to them that love him, who are the called according to his purpose. That spoil is divided with the strong, says God. Notice something here. God refers to his people as strong. By nature, we're weak. Even dead in trespasses and sin. And when it comes to the body of this flesh, we continue to be weak. We go through a period of strength, which doesn't last very long. Even in that strength, we're weak, because God can take it away in a moment. But you see, that's God's purpose too, because God's strength is made perfect in our weakness. But it's in Christ that we are strong. Whereas God chose us unto strength, we now possess the risen and exalted Christ as our life, and therefore we are strong, beloved, strong in Christ Jesus. how incredibly strong you are when you are one with Christ by faith. The gates of hell cannot prevail against you. As we read in the last part of Romans chapter 8, that nothing, absolutely nothing, can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. The Apostle even lists several terrible things. Tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, sword, even death by persecution. And as he faces all these possibilities, and they're very real possibilities for him, in fact, they're going to bring him to the grave. His amazing conclusion is this. Romans 8 verses 37 and following. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. As those who are joined to Christ by a faith which is indestructible. Because it's not of us. which is the gift of God, Ephesians 2 verse 8. By that faith, we God's people face a wonderful future. Our lives are hid with Christ in God. Do you have that knowledge? That perfect knowledge of your perfect justification? Do you know this Christ is yours? This risen Savior is the Lord of Glory. Do you know Him as such? Does your life reflect submission to His Lordship? If so, you may be assured that when He, our exalted Savior, shall appear at the end of the ages, we shall appear with Him in glory. We shall stand before God, watching and praising Him as all the enemies are cast into their final everlasting place of desolation. And Christ establishes us with that glory which is everlasting, where the tabernacle of God is with men. And all because the suffering servant of Jehovah poured out his soul unto death, he was numbered with the transgressors. And He bared the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors, even for you and me. Amen. Father in Heaven, we rejoice in the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, the stamp of Thine approval. upon His perfect satisfaction on the cross and His reconciliation of us unto Thee. And we pray, Heavenly Father, as we fix our eyes upon our exalted Savior, that we live in submission to that Lord of glory and in the hope that is ours with him who shall divide the spoils of his perfect victory. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.