Christ in Isaiah

From eternity past God knew that man would need a redeemer. God made man perfect and put man in perfect environment, but man still rebelled against Him. God willing sent His son to be the redeemer that mankind needed. The entire Bible reveals God’s redemption plan for man. The Old Testament focuses on the judgment that we deserve for our sin and the New Testament focuses on Christ and His finished work on the cross. The book of Isaiah encapsulates the entire Bible into one book. Isaiah preached judgment through the first thirty-nine chapters and focused on Messiah’s work in the last twenty-seven. Isaiah covers Christ’s birth, His humility, His relationship with His Father, His message, and His future reign during the millennium.

Christ’s life on earth began His mission of redemption. In Isaiah 7:14 God gave Ahaz a sign that a virgin would conceive and bring a son into the world that would be called Immanuel. God wanted to assure Ahaz that the Davidic line would never be cut off. The birth of Christ would not occur for another seven hundred years, but the promise gave a ray of hope for wicked king Ahaz. No matter what trial a believer faces they can rest in the promises of God’s word. God always fulfills His word.

Humility characterized Christ’s life here on earth. Philippians 2:6-7 reveals that He humbled Himself to become a man. (If when God chooses to humble Himself He becomes a man than why do men think they are something when they are nothing?) In Isaiah 7:15 God says “Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.” His humility did not stop once He became a man; He choose to be born into a family so poor that thicken milk and honey served as the predominate staples. The spirit of humility that Christ exhibited on earth should be seen in the life of every one of God’s Children. Holding on to personal rights cannot be tolerated. A believer’s life should be completely surrendered to God just as Christ showed us. Just as a coat is given up completely to cover a body and a pen is absolutely given up to the use of writing believers must be given up to the will of God. The flesh will fight hard against giving up personal rights. When Christ came to earth He made Himself a servant of others. Should believers not continue in that humility and serve those around us.

When Christ became flesh to dwell among us He maintained a close relationship with His Father. Isaiah 50:4 refers to Christ’s obedience to the Father. He was not rebellious and never turned backward. Christ followed the path that God had planed for Him and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Christ went beyond obeying His Father He pleased His Father. In Isaiah 42:1 God said that He delighted in His son. When John the Baptist baptized Him the Father from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Believers today can have that sane relationship with God our heavenly Father. The Spirit of Christ indwelling believers wants each believer to have that same relationship with God. The very nature of Christ within them should flow out. A lamb does not force itself to be gentle, that is its nature. It does not need to study to be gentle that is its nature. A lamb does not need to practice to be gentle that is its nature. And in the same way that a lamb is naturally gentle the nature of Christ indwells every believer and should be flowing out of every believer. It is not in Christ’s nature to be cruel, harsh, unloving, sharp tongued, or lazy. By faith believers must ask Christ to remove from them anything that is not according to His nature. It is in Christ’s nature to be patient, caring, loving, kind, gentle, and diligent. Believers must rest in the fact that Christ’s nature is in them.

When Christ came to earth as a man He chose to comfort the people. Isaiah was told to speak comfortable words to Jerusalem. Christ did not come as a loud brash person full of charisma. Christ came with a meek temperament. He did not lift up his voice and shout to be heard. Christ had words of hope and comfort for his people. In the New Testament Christ stood in the temple and said “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;”(Isaiah 61:1) Christ came to give deliverance. This is not just a future freedom; it is a freedom from today’s needs.

The redeemed of the Lord can rest in God. He has called them by name and taken them for His own. He promises to be with them through trials no matter how difficult. God has never failed or lacked strength to fulfill His promise to care for us.(Isaiah 43:1-13) He will take care of the needs of His people if believers would only come in faith and ask Him. God holds blessings, strength, wisdom, understanding, council, boldness, and so much more that He wants to give believers in His hand. Believers must ask what they need from God and reckon it to be given unto them.

Christ wants to deliver the physically and spiritually poor. Christ wants believers to know the riches that they have in Him. Satan wants believers to doubt their salvation and thereby deceiving a believer into thinking that he is poor.

Christ also came to deliver the broken hearted. In 2 Corinthians 4:7-10 Paul gives an example of how they were under great stress, pressure, and persecution, but Christ was with them manifesting Himself through them.

Christ came to set the captives free and meet the needs of the blind. In Romans 6:11-12 Paul tells the Romans to take account that they are dead to sin and alive to God. A person who is spiritually captive has already been set free but they must reckon it to be true. Although a believer finds freedom in Christ, he can still become blind. 1 John 2:9-11 warns believers that if they walk in sin their eyes will become blind. When a believer stops growing in the Lord or refuse to deal with their sin they become spiritually blind.

Christ suffering and death were the capstone of His message. He gave His back to the smiters, He gave His face to be spat upon, and His beard was plucked from His face. (Isaiah 50:6) His broken body could not be recognized as a human body. God’s wrath for the sin of mankind overflowed onto Christ. No man has or will ever go through the agony that Christ went through. The only method of payment for sin had been fulfilled. Christ shed His blood for mankind. (Hebrews 9:22) How dare believers think that they can live how they please? Christ shed His precious blood for them. They are now bound to Him. If Christ died for them the least believers can do is live for Him. (2 Corinthians 5:15)

God raised His son from the dead and will one day exalt Him. Isaiah 40:5 tells believers that one day the glory of the Lord will be revealed and all flesh will see it. God has lifted His son up on high. Christ will one day come back to rule and reign as the king of this world. Before Christ reigns on earth He will judge the earth. During this tribulation period He will reshape the earth so that the valleys are filled and the mountains are flat. But, more than physical upheaval God will destroy all the wicked nations just like He destroyed Edom. No one will escape God’s judgment because God will tread them down in His anger.

Isaiah should be a book of comfort for a believer. When Isaiah prophesied about His birth it came to pass. When Isaiah told of His humility and relationship with His Father it came to pass. The promises made about Christ’s future reign will come to past. What a peace believers can have to know that Christ will perform His word.