Isaiah |
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Isaiah Chapter 53
Actually about three verses from the end of chapter 52 should be included here, because they also are speaking of the future Messiah. Isaiah 52: verses 13 - 15
There are a few scriptures in the New Testament that refer to the Messiah being exalted after His days of suffering for our sins. Extolled simply means to be highly praised.
Hebrews is a good place to learn of the details of the change in the priesthood from the Levites to Christ. The one who came as a babe from a poor family, to suffer and die for sins is now exalted to the right hand of God waiting for the day He returns first to gather all His believers and second to set up His eternal kingdom.
Two more verses in Isaiah 52:
We see here reference to the first coming of Jesus when He suffered such destruction of His body by beatings, men pulling out His beard, nails put in His hands and feet and dying before those that hated Him. He came first as the son of Joseph the suffering servant, His second coming shall be as the son of David the King. The New Testament quotes from this part of the Old Testament scripture more than any other section. It surely is the most important part that God wants us to understand. Jesus' sufferings also remind us of the Joseph in the book of Genesis who was sold as a slave. He ended up in Egypt, was falsely accused, sent to prison but in the end was exalted as second to Pharaoh king of Egypt. Its very necessary that we understand that Jesus had to come to make an offering for sin before His coming to set up His kingdom on earth and deliver Israel from their enemies. A savior from sin was hard to get people to understand but vital to our salvation. The sprinkling of many nations may refer to the sprinkling of His own blood to cleanse of sin. This would be for cleansing and purification. We see an example of this under the law given to Israel by Moses in Leviticus chapter 8 and also Exodus chapter 29. Also in the New Testament:
Now we begin Isaiah 53.
This whole chapter could not possibly apply to any person except the Lord Jesus Christ. He fulfills this prophecy that was given by Isaiah approximately 700 years before the 1st coming of Christ. No one else can possibly be the Son of God and the Messiah. Jewish Rabbis have studied and pondered Isaiah 53. Some were confused by it, some avoided it and some admitted that this can only refer to the Messiah even though they didn't admit that the Messiah was the one we call Jesus.
Verse one in Isaiah 53 is fulfilled in latter times when Jesus was preaching the gospel. This is also was spoken of by Paul the apostle.
Isaiah asks here, "Who has believed our report?" Jesus Christ is the arm of the Lord revealed to all that believe upon Him.
Here shows that the Messiah was not going to be coming the first time with glory and pomp. He would not have been a famous personality and have worldly charm that attracts the approval of the world around Him. He did not come among the rich and affluent. He was not born into a family of the rich and prominent. Yet He was born from the lineage of King David and was qualified to be King of Israel. If were looking for a world renowned Messiah they were looking in the wrong direction. Israel was under Roman oppression and spiritually it was a very sad time in their history. John the Baptist was called to start the awakening to prepare for the coming of the Lord.
We see here a Messiah that was despised and rejected of men. We see sorrow not joy. We see one that was rejected by His own countrymen. They were looking for a great and powerful military leader to deliver them from the Roman army. They were looking for a savior but not a savior from sin. They were looking for a savior from Roman oppression.
Until we recognize our need to be saved from sin, we will not see a savior from oppressing kingdoms. The sin problem had to be dealt with first. Sin cannot inherit the kingdom of God. The Messiah came first to die and be a sacrifice for our sins. Before we can inherit the literal Kingdom of God that is to come, we first must become part of the Kingdom of God that is Spiritual. That is the kingdom within the soul of our innermost being. We have to be "Born again" by the Spirit of God. It's a regeneration, a change from the inside. This comes about when we repent and renounce our sins and receive the Messiah, Jesus Christ into our inner spirit by faith. When He comes literally the second time we then will be worthy (because of His righteousness) to live in the literal Kingdom of God. Notice that Jesus Christ fulfills verse three when He came the first time. His own people did not accept Him. They allowed the religious leaders of that day to stir them up against the Lord. That had to happen to fulfill the scriptures. A final supreme sacrifice for our sins had to take place first and then, not only can the Jewish people (children of promise) be saved but also the Gentiles or any other person on the face of the earth now can be saved and inherit eternal life. This is for anyone who believes. Here is a list of things Jesus suffered at His first coming:
We must not look to great and powerful military leaders or strong leaders who promise a good life here on earth, which passes away and then is no more. We must look to someone who cleanses away sin and brings us a life that lasts forever. This is why so many stumble a the gospel of Jesus Christ. They look for a better life here in this sinful world instead of wanting out of the mess, mire and sin. They run to and fro seeking riches here and neglecting that which is eternal. They do not realize that when Jesus comes into their souls they actually receive life. When that "Living Water" comes into our lives, we have something that the world cannot have. We have an inner peace, joy and contentment that does not depend on outward circumstances. What possibly could cause the apostle Paul to actually be able to sing in prison? What could cause Steven while evil men were stoning him with large stones and seeing Jesus standing at the Father's right hand, be able to say, "Lay not this sin to their charge?" They saw not a good life here but a life eternal with eternal joy and everlasting peace. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Jesus also when dying and suffering on the cross, cried out, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do."
This is an exact description of Christ. He actually bore all our grieves and sorrows.
He was actually wounded because of our sins. He had none of His own. Every stripe He received in His own body was for our healing. I believe this to mean spiritual as well as physical healing. He already paid the price to redeem us from sin, we just have to believe and receive that. He died that we might live. He took our punishment that we would not have to. He knew that we could never do enough to redeem ourselves from sin. He knew there was no way His creation could possibly save themselves. None of our good works or deeds can be good enough to buy our ticket to heaven and eternal life. Nothing. He knew that He had to buy it for us. He made that supreme sacrifice. He did it all. All we have to do is receive it by acknowledging our need for it, turning away from sin and turning to Him to take those sins away. We then receive the gift of eternal life, which begins, in our innermost being the very moment we receive Jesus Christ as savior and Lord or our lives. This is eternal. This is everlasting. This is something that does not depend upon this life or the circumstances of this life. It is for those who are poor, for those who are rich, for those who are black, for those who are white, for those who have accomplished nothing and for those who have built great cities. The gospel is for everyone who will receive. Men, women and children.
All our sins and iniquity was laid on Jesus Christ upon that cross. This added to His suffering. Not only did Jesus suffer the pain of having nails driven in His hands and feet. Not only was Jesus hanging by the weight of His body on that wooden cross, but He endured the ugly filth of every sin that mankind ever committed in the past or in the future into His own sinless body. That killed Him. "The wages of sin is death." That killed His physical body. The spirit and soul of Jesus of course did not die but went to preach to the spirits in prison or Hell. After three days in the grave, the body of Jesus was raised from the dead. Jesus was the first fruits of that which was to come upon all of us who believe. That is the promise of eternal life with a new body that cannot die anymore. No more death, pain, sorrow, or crying for those who believe upon the death, burial and resurrection of the very Son of God, Jesus Christ.
This was quoted in Acts. As a man from Ethiopia was reading from the book of Isaiah wondering who Isaiah was speaking of:
The story in Acts of the conversion of the Ethiopian is one example of why Jesus went through all the suffering He did. Peter also spoke of these things:
Jesus could have called the angels of heaven to deliver Him from that horrible death on the cross. He didn't have to die. The soldiers had no power over Jesus. He stayed on that cross and accepted all that suffering for the sake of all that would later believe on Him for their salvation. It was love for us that kept Him on that cross until the work was finished.
This foretells of His death and why He was killed. Not for anything evil He had done but because of the evil we all did.
He was actually buried in a borrowed tomb of a rich man.
He was actually crucified with criminals even though He was innocent of any crime Himself.
Thieves were crucified along with Him. It is believed that Jesus was first buried with these men but later Joseph of Arimathaea went to Pilate to plead for the body of Jesus.
God was pleased with the results of the death of Jesus not with His actual suffering. God knew that this was the only way to save His creation from Hell and being eternally lost. Jesus was the trespass offering for sin. The guilt offering from sin is described in Leviticus chapters 5, 7, and 19. Also in 1 Samuel chapter 6. Jesus was willing to carry out this on our behalf.
He actually justifies many. All who believe in Him shall be justified. Made just: Just as if we had never sinned. Mankind remembers our mistakes and sin. When we bring those sins to Christ and have them taken away, God does not remember them any more. This is not a blanket salvation for all mankind. Those that inherit this salvation do so when they receive Christ by turning from sin and believing in His sacrifice on their behalf. Believe as a child believes the word of his or her father and mother.
This says it all. This is why Jesus came the first time. To make a way for our salvation and pay the price for our sin. Now we have one intercessor between God and us. He makes intercession for the thief on the cross as well as for sinners who want to find God. He still makes intercession for all who believe in Him
At His second coming the one who humbled Himself and allowed Himself to be beaten, mocked, crucified, by evil men, will be exalted and rule over all. He will divide what is given to Him with those that believe in Him and are faithful to Him through all things. Those strong in faith through their battle against evil for God's purpose. Those that follow the Lord through good times as well as bad.
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