Christ in the Old Testament

Isaiah 53

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 53:1-12

Before we move on from Isaiah 53, I’d like to reflect one more day on the chapter as a whole. Read over the entire chapter again and take in the greatness of our Savior and what he has done for us.

The redeemed remnant of Jews look back in time to reflect on what they did to Jesus. They missed him. As we have seen so far over the last 270 days or so is that Jesus is woven into the very fabric of the Jewish Scriptures. Every event, every song and every prophecy point to Jesus. Jesus is the focal point of all eternity – past, present and future.

But Jesus was hiding in plain sight. The Jews missed him. He was sent to them and they didn’t receive him. But that was also the plan all along. Jesus came to die for our sins and restore us back to God. Isaiah 53 lays it all out in black and white as the Jewish remnant can now see.

Jesus claimed that Isaiah 53 was about him:

“He said to them… ‘It is written: “And he was numbered with the transgressors’; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment”‘” (Luke 22:36-37).

We can look to Isaiah 53 with confidence that Jesus has secured the eternity of those who put their trust and faith in him. We are his reward. He is now at the right hand of God interceding for us. The time is coming soon when we will see him face to face.

John wrote:

“Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:

‘Hallelujah!
    For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and be glad
    and give him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come,
    and his bride has made herself ready.
Fine linen, bright and clean,
    was given her to wear.’

(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.)

Then the angel said to me, ‘Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’ And he added, ‘These are the true words of God’” (Rev 19:6-9).

These are the true words of God. We can have confidence in our future because of Isaiah 53:

“But he was pierced for our transgressions,
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
    and by his wounds we are healed” (Isa 53:5).

Today’s Prayer: Lord, I am humbled by your plan of salvation. I am grateful for your mercy and grace. There is no other who is worthy of my praise than Jesus.