The Man of Sorrows

Isaiah 53:3-4

Series on the Cross for Lent

INTRODUCTION:

 

Sorrow Is a part of life.

  1. Who has not known sorrow?
  2. Life begins with a cry and ends with a sigh.

 

Christ came to bear our sorrows

  1. He experienced sorrow.
  2. He is able to comfort those who are sorrowing

 

Examining the sorrows of Christ on the cross.

 

I.                    THE SORROW OF REJECTION  (v. 3)

A.     “He is despised and rejected of men”

B.     Rejection brings the deepest of sorrows.

1.      His love was rejected.

2.      His truth was rejected.

3.      His kingdom was rejected.

C.    He was rejected by His people  (John 1:11)

D.    He was rejected by those in His home area (Matthew 13:57-58)

E.     He was rejected by the religious leaders (Pharisees)

F.     He was rejected by the crowd at the cross  (Matt. 27:39-43)

G.    Have you suffered the sorrow of rejection?

H.     Jesus knows how you feel…and cares.

 

II.                  THE SORROW OF GRIEF (v. 3)

A.     All are acquainted with grief.

1.      Tears are common to us all

2.      The grief of shattered dreams

3.      The grief of broken homes and marriages.

4.      The grief that suffering by love ones brings.

5.      The grief of losing loved ones in death.

B.     Our Lord was “acquainted with grief.”

1.      He did not insulate Himself from grief.

2.      His tears at the grave of Lazarus (John 11:30)

3.      His tears for Jerusalem (Luke 19:41-44)

C.    Christ enters into our grief.

1.      We can bring our deepest grief to Him.

2.      He waits at the throne of grace.

3.      He provides grace to help in the time of need (Heb. 4:16)

4.      His grace is sufficient for our grief.  (2 Cor. 12:9)

 

III.                THE SORROW OF LONLINESS (v. 4)

A.     “We hid as it were our faces from him”

B.     He walked that lonely road for you and me.

1.      He prayed in Gethsemane alone (Luke 22:40-46)

2.      At His arrest, His disciples left Him alone (Matt. 26:56)

3.      He stood before the high priest alone (Luke 22:63-71)

4.      He was tried before Pilate alone (Luke 23)

5.      He was forsaken on the cross alone (Matt. 27:46)

C.    He will never leave us alone.

1.      “I am with you always”  (Matt. 28:20)

2.      “I will not leave you comfortless” (John 14:18)

3.      “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee”  (Heb. 13:5)

 

CONCLUSION:

 

  1. Christ has carried our sorrows.
  2. Why then should we carry them?
  3. Accept His comfort for your sorrows
  4. Share this good news with sorrowing ones.