Christ in the Old Testament

Isaiah 52:14

Just as there were many who were appalled at him—
    his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being
    and his form marred beyond human likeness. (NIV)

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 52:13-15

Verse 14 and the first half of 15 are one sentence that say since this then that. Verse 14 begins with “As” or “Just as” and verse 15 begins with “so.” What Isaiah is telling us is just as the Jews were horrified by the appearance of Jesus at his first coming, the world will be astonished at his second coming.

The word “appalled” is the Hebrew word šāmēm which is used throughout the Old Testament to convey the idea of total desolation caused by a great disaster. It also means to be in shock or in horror of the vision of this desolation. The outward scene causes the inward response.

For instance we see both meanings in the following:

“ I will turn your cities into ruins and lay waste (šāmēm) your sanctuaries, and I will take no delight in the pleasing aroma of your offerings. I myself will lay waste (šāmēm) the land, so that your enemies who live there will be appalled (šāmēm)” (Lev 26:31-32).

Jesus body was utterly destroyed – laid waste – so that those who saw him were shocked by his appearance and his form. Isaiah describes both his “appearance” and his “form” as being destroyed. These are two different Hebrew words – mar’eh and tō’ar.

The word mar’eh translated as “appearance” places the emphasis on his face being disfigured. Whereas the word tō’ar translated as “form” is more generally speaking about his whole body.

The last word we will consider today is the Hebrew word mišḥat which is translated “disfigured” or “corrupt.” There is only one other time in the Old Teatament where this word is used:

“You must not do this in your own land, and you must not accept such animals from the hand of a foreigner and offer them as the food of your God. They will not be accepted on your behalf, because they are deformed (mišḥat) and have defects” (Lev 22:24-25).

God instructed the Israelites not to accept and sacrifice deformed animals from foreigners. He said that He wouldn’t accept them.

God gave the Israelites a similar instruction through the prophet Malachi:

“‘When you bring injured, lame or diseased animals and offer them as sacrifices, should I accept them from your hands?’ says the Lord. ‘Cursed is the cheat who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but then sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord. For I am a great king,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and my name is to be feared among the nations’” (Mal 1:13-14).

Isn’t that ironic? The perfect Lamb who came to earth to offer himself as the perfect offering to pay humanity’s penalty once and for all for our sin, would be so marred beyond recognition that had he been an animal sacrifice, God would not accept his sacrifice.

But Jesus was perfect. The torture that he endured was for our sake and God not only accepted his sacrifice, but exalted him in the highest.

“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’” (John 1:29).

Today’s Prayer: Thank you Jesus for your sacrifice. You paid the ultimate price so that I could be forgiven. I praise you because worthy is the Lamb!