Simple Reminders
The primary idea you need to keep revisiting during this Following Jesus Pathway is that we are following and being formed by Jesus. This pathway can be learned simply or in great depth. We trust that you as a leader know your people and the dynamics of your group well enough to adapt and impart this topic with grace and wisdom.
This guide is designed to help you and others follow and be formed by Jesus. Remember to keep it Jesus-Centered.
We pray that you will be Spirit-Led and Spirit- Empowered as you lead and learn together.
Brief Commentary and Context
(Answer this question here: What did this mean in the original context and how is it set in the larger story of the Bible?)
The Gospel- The gospel means ‘good news’- the good news of who Jesus is and what Jesus has done. It is the message that Jesus is Lord and the Kingdom of God is now accessible on earth as it is in heaven through him unto a whole new creation. The gospel is the power of God for the salvation and transformation of all who put their trust in Jesus.
Brief Commentary for Isaiah 52:13-53:12- The story of Israel started with a promise to Abraham that all the nations would be blessed through his offspring and a covenant requiring their faithfulness. A later promise was made with King David that one from his offspring would reign forever. Generation after generation Israel struggled to remain faithful to God’s covenant which resulted in judgment and exile at the hands of powerful empires. The book of Isaiah, 700 years before Christ, speaks to Israel‘s failure to remain faithful and the dire consequences they experienced in exile. Into this dark era in their history comes a hope-filled promise. God will do a “new thing” that includes a new covenant and a messiah, in the line of David, who will fulfill Israel’s calling to be a blessing to all nations. Strangely, Isaiah depicts this King as a suffering servant who will endure brutal anguish and death for the sake of humanity's sin and unfaithfulness. Isaiah sees and proclaims God’s salvation for Israel and all people in the amazing form of Emmanuel, “God with us”, but it seems it will be at the cost no one could have possibly imagined. What a mystery God’s own Son will die the death we should have died for sin.
Core Truths from the Topic and Summary Scripture
Summary Scripture: Isaiah 53:4-6- “Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. 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. 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.”
“Sin entered the world through one man (the first Adam), and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned.” (Romans 5:12)
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)
“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)
“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:22-24)
“Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own.” (Titus 2:14)
“God was going to pour into Jesus’ heart all the sadness and brokenness in people’s hearts. He was going to pour into Jesus; body all the sickness in people’s bodies. It would crush Jesus.” - “Jesus was going to take the punishment. Then, like a lamb, he got quiet. ‘I trust you Papa’, he said. ‘Whatever you say I will do.’” (Jesus Storybook Bible)
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