No parent wants their child to fail. We never have children with the hopes that they will be a thief or assassinate a president. But watch the parents beam when their child does well. It starts early when a child does well in kindergarten. But it continues through out life. Barbara Bush said that she was proud of her son when he became president. The more famous, the greater the pride. The closer the relationship, the greater the joy over the person’s success. People make millions on having the right signature on a baseball. The value of something that belonged to George Washington is greater because of who he was.

We end the servant songs in Isaiah with this statement: God is pleased that Jesus would be famous. We have seen that God is pleased with how Jesus can be both gentle and just. We have seen that God lifts up the abilities of Jesus. Last week we saw how God highlights the brilliance, the intelligence of Jesus. What catches the attention of God in this passage is the acknowledgement of how famous Jesus will become.

Who would have predicted that a baby born to a carpenter in a stable would be so well known around the world 2000 years later? God knew. There are presently 2.1 billion people who claim to be Christians in the world today, larger than any other single group. Not everyone is a Christian, as the Bible defines a Christian, but that number is incredible. He lived in Israel, never wrote a book, never met a major world leader, never had great wealth or power. But today he is known all around the world. His name is used more than any other name in American culture, unfortuanately not in a positive way. But who would have guessed? God did. Writing 700 years before Christ’s birth, God showed Isaiah that his servant would be famous.

“13 See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.
What does it mean to be raised and lifted up and highly exalted? We don’t speak that way, but in Biblical times they used this to speak of kings or queens. It was a way of saying that they were important, that they were special. The more someone is lifted up, the more they are exalted, the more famous they become.

God tells us the odds that Jesus would face. 14 Just as there were many who were appalled at him--his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness—
If you have seen the Last Temptation of Christ you have a visual picture of how much his appearance was disfigured. The cross was the electric chair of the day, except it was much less humane. Early Roman culture would laugh at a discussion of painless execution. As a matter of fact, the more painful and humiliating they could make it, the better. So Jesus lived and died, disfigured beyond recognition, a criminal, an enemy of the state.

15 so will he sprinkle many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because of him. For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will understand.
There is coming a day that the kings of this earth, the presidents, the prime ministers, the world leaders are going to have a wakeup call. If they have not heard about Jesus, they will see who he is. If they have not had the gospel explained, they will understand. Jesus will go from criminal to a place of prominence. The Bible predicts that there is a day in the future that Jesus will be even more popular, even more famous, than he is now.

1 Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
But we can identify with Isaiah’s dilemma. Who would believe it? The message of the cross is foolishness to those who don’t believe. If you have ever had anyone say, “I just don’t see how a loving God could send his son to die on the cross”, you understand how difficult it is for people to wrap their minds around the wonder and glory of Jesus. The text gives a bunch of negatives that would cause a person to reject this message, to reject the idea that Jesus would ever be famous or important.

2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.
With all these problems seen 700 years before Jesus was born and seen in our day, what is there about Jesus that would make him famous?

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken. 9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.
I can’t speak for you, but I put myself in this passage. Jesus did this for me. Can you say this with me? If so, say verse 5 and 6 with me:

5 But he was pierced for my transgressions, he was crushed for my iniquities; the punishment that brought me peace was upon him, and by his wounds I am healed. 6 I, like sheep, have gone astray, I have turned to my own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity that belonged to me.

It is this message of love for sinners, peace for those separated from God, healing for spiritual disease that has made Jesus so famous. What is Jesus known for, all around the world? When you name the name Jesus, people will say, “love”, “forgiveness”, “Son of God”.

Isaiah has to come back once again to explain the incredible odds and the reason behind them.
10 Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
All this suffering was part of God’s will. It was the only way that we could be saved. An innocent person had to die for sinners for their sin to be forgiven. And Jesus was the one. As part of God’s plan, Jesus suffered on the cross so we could have forgiveness of sin and eternal life.

and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.

What is this about offspring? Verse 8 says, 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken.

The truth is that we are his offspring. Spiritually we are the ones born again through the precious blood of Jesus Christ.

But look at his reward. 11 After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” Isaiah 52:13-53:12, NIV.

It is incredible how popular Jesus would become. I read reports of how large groups of people in Africa, Korea, and other places are coming to know, trust and believe in Jesus.

How famous is Jesus in Palermo or your home town? Do people know about him? How many people in your work place know about Jesus. CEF tells us that they are meeting many children who have never heard about Jesus, except as a swear word.
Did you know that every time you bring Jesus into a conversation, you are fulfilling this prophecy, that he would be lifted up? Did you know that every time you tell someone about God’s love through Jesus, or explain the resurrection, that you are fulfilling prophecy?

God was so pleased with his servant, Jesus, because he knew he would be famous for all the right reasons. Let’s spread his fame, lets speak his name, for the glory of God.