My Story & The Scriptures

My Story - growing up in Christian home. Started questioning what I believed for the sake of truth.

One of the 1st passages that blew me away was from the prophet Isaiah - about 700 before the ministry of Jesus.

Here’s what Isaiah writes.

Isaiah 53:1–3 NIV

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

There’s nothing about this man that makes him stand out from others, nothing that would draw us to him.

In fact, other people would despise and reject him

He would be treated poorly by other people and experience suffering & pain - but not just his suffering & pain…

Isaiah 53:4 NIV

Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.

How could this man take the pain and suffering of others?

Why would people consider him to be punished by God?

Isaiah 53:5–6 NIV

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.

Many people quote this verse and claim it means Jesus’ death does away with sickness, but this is not the case. Look at how His apostle, Peter, applies this text to Jesus and His disciples.

1 Peter 2:24–25 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.” For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Isaiah 53:7 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.

He would not defend himself.

Isaiah 53:8–9 NIV

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.

He would be killed (“cut off from the land of the living”), punished for the transgression of the Hebrew people.

Isaiah 53:9 (NIV)

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.

2 incredible claims here: 1) dies among the wicked - 2 criminals die beside him 2) yet buried with “the rich in his death”. I like the way the NET translates this: Is 53:9

Isaiah 53:9 (NET 2nd ed.)

They intended to bury him with criminals, but he ended up in a rich man’s tomb, because he had committed no violent deeds, nor had he spoken deceitfully.

- see Matthew 27:57–60

Matthew 27:57–60 (NIV)

As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.

Isaiah 53:10–11 (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.

Although he dies as a sin offering, he will live again “see the light of life”

Isaiah 53:12 (NIV)

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 [Lk 22:37]. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Psalm 22:1 (NIV)

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? [see Mt 27:46]

Psalm 22:6–8 (NIV)

But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by everyone, despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads. “He trusts in the Lord,” they say, “let the Lord rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.”

Psalm 22:15–18 (NIV)

My mouth is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death. Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet. All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me. They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.

Of course, this is exactly what they did to Jesus upon his crucifixion (Mark 15:21–32).