Isaiah 53:1-12
He Took My Place

Introduction:
1. Isaiah gives 4 basic reasons to believe that I am the LORD there is none else: the babe in the
womb…the earth…the heavens…prophecy. Here is one of the greatest prophecies in the Old
Testament. How do we know that Isaiah speaks of Jesus’ first coming? That was just the
question that the Ethiopian eunuch raised with Philip. (Acts 8:34) He preached unto him
Jesus…(Acts 8:35)
2. “He took my licks.” Illus. of Tom Sawyer and Becky Thatcher…
3. Isaiah 53 a Substitute who took our place...the just for the unjust

He took my licks…Who took our place?
I. THE SUBSTITUTE’S REJECTED 53:1-3
A. The Message of Rejection 1
1. Who hath believed our report? That which has been revealed to the prophet is not
being received by men. Messiah is coming. The preaching of the cross to them who
are perishing is foolishness…(I Cor. 1:18)
2. For whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? The word arm is ‘bared arm’. God rolled
up His sleaves. There is a very definite reason why men do not believe. God is out
there. Jehovah’s arm came in Jesus Christ. God became man, suffered and died on a
cross. The majority can’t buy it. Who hath believed our report?
B. The Man of Rejection 2
1. A tender plant…a root out of a dry ground.
*Illus. of Death Valley without a green sprig anywhere…suddenly you see a great big head
of iceberg lettuce in this dry, dusty soil. It would be a miracle!
*The family of David was cut off from the kingship. They were no longer princes,
but peasants. They were crushed under the heel of Rome. The moral foundation
was gone. The religion of Israel produced no longer. They were caught up in
empty religion. Their hearts remained cold and indifferent. JESUS CAME! The
loveliest flower of humanity came from the driest spot and period in the world’s
history. IT WAS HUMANLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR HIS DAY AND
GENERATION TO PRODUCE HIM. It was a miracle!
2. He had no form or comeliness…no beauty that we should desire Him. This could be
on the cross due to v. 3. He didn’t measure up to what they had in mind.
C. The Manner of Rejection 3
1. Despised means, ‘to turn up your nose’.
2. Rejected of men It is a rare word…it speaks of the upper class, the rulers.
3. We hid as it were…It is used of lepers hiding their faces. Men eaten up with the
leprosy of sin. These run and hide. Mankind does not want to face their sin. Jesus
Christ is the only cure!

He took my licks…Who took my place?
II. THE SUBSTITUTE’S REVILED 53:4-6
A. Smitten By God 4
1. Smitten by God…3 times he mentions it. God the Father did this. Why?
*The sky grew dark. Christ became the Sacrifice for the sin of the world. Jesus was
treated as sin. He was made to be sin for us who knew no sin. If you want to know
if God hates sin…look at the cross. Yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of
God. If you want to know if God will punish sin…look at Jesus. How shall you
escape if you neglect so great salvation. He was dying for someone else…you
and me!
*Sin is presented as a sickness. Griefs (4) Can be sickness… “He hath born, carried
our sorrows.” He is not talking about physical sickness…read v. 5. The only cure
for this ‘sickness’ (I Peter 2:24) interprets this verse…with His stripes we are
healed. Say the only cure for cancer was in this vile…would you take it?
B. Shunned By Man 5,6
He is our only hope.
1. v. 5 Note the Our…our transgressions…our iniquities…our peace…by His stripes we are
healed. He went to the cross for us!
2. v. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray…Sheep are wondering aimlessly with no purpose.
Though the remedy is before us we have turned everyone to his own way. ‘Do your own
thing.’ ‘Be all that you can be.’ ‘Find yourself.’ Bypassing the cure, man remains
ill…spiritually sick!

He took my licks…Who took my place?
III. THE SUBSTITUTE’S ROAD 53:7-10a
A. The Road of Silence 7 At His trial…
B. The Road of Sacrifice 8 At the Cross…
C. The Road of Shame 9 At His burial…
D. The Road of Submission 10a
1. Thy will be done…God is the offended party. Only He can prescribe the remedy.
2. Jesus was the Trespass Offering for our sin. This isn’t the end. The Cross was
always the end. The grace was always the end.
v. 9 IT WASN’T THE END WITH THIS GOD/MAN!

He took my licks…Who took my place?
IV. THE SUBSTITUTE’S REWARDED 53:10b-12
When the Trespass Offering for sin is presented…THEN:
A. He shall see His seed…he is speaking of many children of faith. (John 1:12)
B. He shall prolong His days…the Resurrection…Jesus is ALIVE!
C. The delight of the Lord shall prosper in His hand…God’s will is accomplished!
D. The Lord shall be satisfied…To please the Father, sin must be paid for.
E. By the knowledge of Him (as Savior) shall my righteous servant justify many…Do you
know Him? This is God’s only way. Reason: He will carry our sin.
F. He is given a special place. v. 12
G. He will divide (share) the spoils of war, because:
1. He poured out His soul.
2. He was numbered among the transgressors. Yet, He Himself bore the sin of many and
interceded for the sinner.

Sin must be paid for, either you pay the price
or
Christ pays the price for you!