Isaiah 51:1-53:12 One would think it would be impossible to read all about the life of Jesus in the Old Testament. There are, however, many prophetic scriptures in the Old Testament about the life and death of Jesus. Our reading in Isaiah today has one of the most famous ones. I have a friend who is a rabbi in a Messianic congregation, and he always tells his Jewish friends who do not believe in Jesus to read Isaiah 53. This is an amazing prophetic chapter that tells all about the rejection of Jesus and how He bore our sins, griefs, transgressions, iniquities and punishments in His death. It speaks of how God made His soul the offering for sin.
God revealed to Isaiah the whole story of Jesus, and Isaiah recorded it hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus. I weep when I read how Jesus was brought as a lamb to slaughter and He spoke not a word. I have been told that sheep are always silent just before they are slaughtered. They allow the one who is to kill them to do this job without any resistance on their part. Jesus was the perfect lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. What a joy to be on the other side of the cross, to experience the full salvation. Isaiah writes about this in chapter 51: “Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look on the earth beneath. For the heavens will vanish away like smoke, the earth will grow old like a garment, and those who dwell in it will die in like manner; but My salvation will be forever, and My righteousness will not be abolished” (v. 6).
How can anyone neglect to receive such a great salvation?
Lord, help me to witness to my Jewish friends by asking them to read Isaiah 53 and other prophetic scriptures in Isaiah. Then open their eyes and ears to see and hear the truth about the great salvation that awaits them.READ: Isaiah 51:1-53:12; Ephesians 5:1-33; Psalm 69:15-36; Proverbs 24:6-7
READ: Isaiah 51:1-53:12; Ephesians 5:1-33; Psalm 69:15-36; Proverbs 24:6-7
