Isaiah 53
by David Gibson
Isaiah 53 is considered the greatest Old Testament prophecy of Christ. How could Isaiah accurately predict Jesus’ death in such detail seven centuries in advance? Only by the power of the Holy Spirit (I Peter 1:10-12; II Peter 1:20-21).
Two Facts About Jesus
- Being innocent, He did not deserve the cruelty He suffered (Isaiah 53:9).
- He is supremely worthy of the exaltation He received (Isaiah 53:10-12).
Two Facts About Us
- Being guilty, we deserved the punishment He suffered on our behalf (Isaiah 53:5, 6, 8 ).
- We are unworthy of the salvation He provided (II Corinthians 5:21; I Peter 2:24-25).
Both Jesus and we are undeserving, but in dramatically different ways. Jesus was undeserving of the punishment He received on our behalf, and we are undeserving of the great salvation we receive through His death for us.
So, How Shall We Respond to All This?
Many respond with disbelief (Isaiah 53:1; John 12:37-41). For a totally different response, see Acts 8:26-39, where Isaiah 53 played a pivotal role in a man’s conversion.
Have you looked at Isaiah 53 lately?
