Foundations of the Faith - Isaiah

Most readers of the Old Testament had an expectation of a coming Messiah who would come as a conquering king. Isaiah revealed a different view of the coming Messiah. This view would be hard for people to believe (Isaiah 53:1)

Isaiah 53:1 NIV

Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

The Messiah would fail to meet the expectations of the people - Isaiah 53:2-3

Isaiah 53:2–3 NIV

He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.

The rejection of the Messiah would be complete

His origin was not impressive - vs. 2

His appearance did not stand out - vs. 2

He was despised and rejected - vs. 3

He was familiar with pain in His life - vs. 3

He was held in low esteem - vs. 3

In short, He wouldn’t have been a very good social media influencer

Jesus was rejected by His own - John 1:11

John 1:11 NIV

He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.

The Messiah would suffer in our place - Isaiah 53:4-6

Isaiah 53:4–6 NIV

Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. 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. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Isaiah reminds us of our sin and its consequences - vs. 4-5

The penalty for sin is always death - Romans 6:23

Romans 6:23 NIV

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Isaiah predicts that the sins of the world would be placed on the Messiah - vs. 6

God placed the sins of the world on Jesus - 1 Peter 2:24

1 Peter 2:24 NIV

“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”

The Messiah would die just as the lambs were sacrificed in the Old Testament - Isaiah 53:7-9

Isaiah 53:7–9 NIV

He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.

Jesus fulfilled this prophecy - 1 Peter 2:23

1 Peter 2:23 NIV

When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.

This suffering Messiah will come to life after his death - Isaiah 53:10-12

Isaiah 53:10–12 NIV

Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Jesus was our offering for sin (vs. 10) - Hebrews 9:11-12

Hebrews 9:11–12 NIV

But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.

Jesus rose from the dead (vs. 11) - 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

1 Corinthians 15:3–4 NIV

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

Jesus intercedes for us (vs. 12) - Hebrews 7:24-25

Hebrews 7:24–25 NIV

but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.