The Gospel in Prophecy: Isaiah 53
“3) He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. 4) Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. 5) But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. 6) All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.” Isaiah 53:3-6
Isaiah now prophesies the details of the death of Jesus. The gospel is in this text. Jesus indeed died to pay for the sins of humanity. “5) But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.”
This verse is a description of the crucifixion. It even includes His scourging. To be clear, “He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities.” He was the substitute payment for our sins. Verses 11-12 makes that clear, “He will justify the many” as a result of His suffering.
Why is this chapter so important? God does nothing unless He first reveals it to His prophets. Altogether, there are over 300 Old Testament prophecies about the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. They cover the span of the whole Old Testament.
To be sure, Israel was without excuse for rejecting the Messiah because they were foretold about everything. But all nations are without excuse because they also were addressed in the book of Isaiah. We are all like straying sheep.
It has been said that the New Testament is concealed in the Old Testament and the Old Testament is revealed in the New Testament. I have been a Christian and avid Bible student since 1973. I am continually amazed at the unity and harmony of the Bible as a whole. It is intended to be studied in its entirety.
In the Bible God reveals Himself to mankind and His plans for human redemption. He also includes warnings of judgement for the wicked and the future doom of the devil and his fallen angels. (Revelation 20:7-15)
Let me share a biblical proposition with you. If hundreds of biblical prophecies over thousands of years have been fulfilled down to the smallest details, including the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ; isn’t it highly likely that end times prophecy will also unfold just as the Bible foretells?
So what is happening today? Human history is rushing toward a prophetic biblical climax often referred to as “the end times.” This present age is drawing to a close and the Bible paints a rather clear picture of our times. See for example Matthew 24, 2 Timothy 3:1-9 or 2 Peter 2-3. These are but a few examples of the many end time prophecies that are unfolding before our very eyes.
If you are a non-Christian or backsliding Christian, I would admonish you to get right with God. Turn to Jesus Christ and start studying your Bible with fresh resolve. These are very exciting days. God is stepping up to the plate and fulfilling His Word. You will be a part of it… just make sure you are on the right team!
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
