Isaiah 53 was the topic today at Biblical Loopholes class. Was Isiah 53 speaking of Messiah? Isaiah 53 could not have been referencing the nation of Israel for many reasons: 1) The servant of Isaiah 53 is an innocent and guiltless sufferer. Israel is never described as sinless. Isaiah 1:4 says of the nation: Alas sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity. A brood of evildoers, children who are corrupters! He then goes on in the same chapter to characterize Judah as Sodom, Jerusalem as a harlot, and the people as those whose hands are stained with blood (verses 10, 15, and 21). What a far cry from the innocent and guiltless sufferer of Isaiah 53 who had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth! 2) The person mentioned in this passage suffers silently and willingly. Yet all people, even Israelites, complain when they suffer! Brave Jewish men and women fought in resistance movements against Hitler. Remember the Vilna Ghetto Uprising? Remember the Jewish men who fought on the side of the allies? Can we really say Jewish suffering during the holocaust and during the preceding centuries was done silently and willingly? 3) Thea young plant, and like a root out of dry ground. mentioned in vs 2 is clearly a reference to Messiah. You can find other examples of Messiah being referenced as a branch through out the book of Isaiah and other parts of Scripture such as Zechariah. It is the most common reference of Messiah. This is unquestionable. From the line of David. It could not have been speaking of the prophet Isaiah either: 1) But Isaiah said he was a sinful man of unclean lips (Isaiah 6:5-7). How about Jeremiah? Nope, not Jeremiah because Jeremiah did not die to atone for the sin of his people. How about Moses? Moses wasnt sinless either. Moses sinned and was forbidden from entering the promised land (Numbers 20:12). Moses indeed attempted to offer himself as a sacrifice in place of the nation, but God did not allow him to do so (Exodus 32:30-35). Moses, Isaiah, and Jeremiah were all prophets who gave us a glimpse of what Messiah, the ultimate prophet, would be like, but none of them quite fit Isaiah 53. So what can we conclude from Isaiah 53? Messiah would be greater than Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah or the nation of Israel itself. Messiah would be greater than all of these combined. As a matter of fact Messiah created them! Messiah is none other than the Word who became flesh. Jesus Christ, completely man completely God came down and died for our sins on a cross. He rose again on the 3rd day defeating death for death had no victory over Messiah. Both Jew and Gentile must go through Jesus Christ to get to heaven for there is no other way. Know the truth and the truth shall set you free. Messiah is the truth, Messiah is Jesus. Know Jesus and you shall be saved. God bless
Posted on: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 05:30:49 +0000