The Vicarious Sacrifice of Christ: Isaiah 53

Jehovah Elyon’s Servant

Katherine Brown illustration

Sadly, far too many professing to be Christian do not read the Scriptures at all. And then there are those who only read certain verses or passages which are most pleasing and agreeable to them. While there are many others still who if they ever do invest of their time to read and meditate upon the inerrant word of God they totally avoid and deny the Older Testament.

Without the Older Testament there is no Newer Testament, and neither can be separated from the other in importance, or nourishment of the spirit and soul, for both are the God-breathed inerrant word of God given us for instruction, reproof, chastisement, for nourishment and growth. By God Himself. Through the men He chose to have His Spirit work in.

The prophet Isaiah knew not the future of his own accord. He most likely, as a man, did not totally understand the words given to him, coming to his heart, written through his hand. Yet he, as an instrument of God’s, wrote nothing but the clear truth of God Almighty speaking to us as clearly as the prophet Isaiah spoke to those Israelites he stood in the presence of every day of his fleshly life here on earth.

We cannot use the excuse of not having time. It is our responsibility and duty to first and foremost make time for the Lord, make time for our spiritual growth and well being. To make time, quiet, contemplative, meditative time to study the word of God…and listen. And hear. And obey.

We cannot use the excuse of we do not understand. True hearts are opened to the truth and understanding of God’s word. We need not make it more difficult than God made it for us. Do not be misled by the vain pronouncements of so-called learned men, denominations and their skewing and omitting and perverting and corrupting.

God gave His word so that every pure heart seeking Him could understand.

And do not deny or disallow the power of His Spirit working in any person to provide understanding beyond their normal ability. Just as God through the power of His Spirit gave His words to the prophet Isaiah, who by the power and Spirit of God was given understanding and Isaiah obeyed his God.

As should we all.

Jehovah Elyon’s, Almighty God’s Servant, Jesus Christ the Lord marred and afterward exalted:

¶ Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high.

As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:

So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.

Isaiah 52: 13-15

From the Book of Isaiah the Prophet of God

CHAPTER 53

1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?

2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

4 ¶ Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

10 ¶ Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.