We are living in an age where it seems everyone has something to report. Seemingly everyone is accusing other reports to be called "Fake News." It is obvious that, with all of the contradictions, someone is lying - someone is mistaken. Very possibly everyone is biased. Who is totally accurate today? Well, this seems to have been escalating in the last few years. But it really goes back to ancient times. With so many, God's truth has always been treated with suspicion, if not deliberately ignored or suppressed (Genesis 3:1-6; Romans 1:16-32; Psalm 119:126; Isaiah 59:12-15; Jeremiah 36:1-26; I Corinthians 1:18-24; 2:1-5, 9-16).
So, in our Scripture reading, Isaiah expresses the concern that others will not believe the report that God has given the prophets. God used the nation Israel to give us the Scriptures through the prophets (Romans 3:1-4; Luke 24:44-48; Hebrews 1:1-3). Among other things, these Scriptures are to be considered the record / testimony that God gave concerning His Son (I John 5:9-11).
The Book of Isaiah has many things to say about the Messiah. Isaiah 53:1-12 is such a powerful testimony of God's way of using His Servant the Messiah - "The arm of the LORD." Previous statements from Isaiah have expressed His rejection and persecution (Isaiah 50:4-11). This treatment of Messiah would lead many, including Gentiles, to astonishment, repentance, and the giving of honor to the Messiah (Isaiah 52:13-15 cp. Acts 2:36-38; Romans 15:20-21 [using a quote from Isaiah 52:15]; Philippians 2:6-11 [Philippians 2:9-11 using a quote from Isaiah 45:22-23] cp. Philippians 2:5, 12-16 ).
| Consider Isaiah 53:1-12 |
| Isaiah 53:1-3 |
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Messiah's Life and Ministry |
| Isaiah 53:4-8 |
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Messiah's Death |
| Isaiah 53:9 |
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Messiah's Burial |
| Isaiah 53:10-12 |
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Messiah's Resurrection, Satisfaction, and Exaltation |
Isaiah asked, "Who has believed our report / testimony?" He also asks, "To whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?" The Messiah / Christ can only be revealed by…
- The Spirit of God (John 1:10-13; 3:3, 6-8; 6:44-45 [John 6:45 cites Isaiah 54:13]; John 6:63; Titus 3:5-7; James 1:18; I Peter 1:18-23 cp. Ephesians 2:1-22).
- The Preaching of the Gospel (Romans 1:16; 10:13-17 [Note: Romans 10:16 quotes Isaiah 53:1]; I Corinthians 1:18-21; I Peter 1:23-25).
Has the Son of God revealed Himself to you?
- Matthew 11:25-30 cp Luke 10:17-24
- John 5:25;
- Ephesians 4:21 ("Heard Him" not "Heard about Him" cp KJV, NKJV, NASB + others)
- I John 5:9-13, 20.
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