Alive Update: The Suffering Servant

The Suffering ServantMEMORY VERSE All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6)

KEY BIBLICAL THEOLOGICAL THEMES Redemption, Substitution

THE STORY SO FAR God created a kingdom, and he is the King, but he made human beings to represent him in that kingdom. Adam and Eve rejected this call, which led to sin and death. But God promised to defeat the Serpent through the seed of the woman, who is also the seed of Abraham. Through Abraham’s family, and specifically Judah’s royal seed, David, the covenant blessings would come to the world. Because all people were guilty and deserved death, the sacrifices of the Mosaic law revealed more clearly their need for a substitute—the suffering servant

For Discussion & Further Reading

1) Why did God’s judgment come on his people? What does this teach us about their continued need— and your own need?

2) Both when Israel ignored the law and when they tried to keep it, they kept falling into sin. With which of these tendencies do you identify most closely? Why do you think both ways lead to the same place?

3) The servant represented Israel as its substitute. Are these new ideas to you? Why do you think they are so important for understanding the whole story of the Bible?

4) How do the suffering servant promises and the sacrifices of the law of Moses relate to each other? How does seeing that relationship help you become a better reader of the Bible?
Psalm 69 
How does this psalm help you understand the biblical theological themes from this chapter and the big story of the Bible, which culminates with Jesus?
Isaiah 52:13–53:12 
What are some key insights from this passage that add to your understanding of the story and the biblical theological themes?