Isaiah Part Two Dive

FORGET WALLY, FIND JESUS

As you read Isaiah, there is a beautiful thread of prophecy that runs throughout the whole book. The prophecy appears in both sections; the first section of judgement and the second section of comfort. The beautiful thread that Isaiah prophesies is the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. We have the great advantage of reading this book on this side of the cross, so we get to read knowing how Jesus came and what took place. As you read Isaiah, I want you to discover Jesus and highlight the verses that prophesy His coming. He is not dressed in a stripy red and white shirt with a cute red cap, but I can guarantee you won’t miss Him.

I 1:18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.
I 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Before this was a Christmas Carol, this was a declaration of hope to a nation that was about to go into exile! Also check out Luke 1:26-31.

L 9:6-7 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

CHAPTER 11 – THE BRANCH FROM JESSE

I 11:1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
I 28:16-17 See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic.
I 50:6 I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my bead; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting.

CHAPTER 53 – THE SUFFERING SERVANT

I 53:5 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.

Isaiah 61:1-3 is the very verse that Jesus read out in the synagogue and proclaimed in Luke 4: 14-30 ‘Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing’. Isaiah doesn’t just speak of Jesus, he also prophecies John the Baptist the forerunner of Jesus which is spoken of in John 1:23.

I 40:3-5 A voice of one calling in the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

But wait, aren’t we 700+ years before Jesus was to come to earth? Yes we are, God already had in mind how He would save and redeem these rebellious people and He gives the people hints through the prophets of the Old Testament. How cool is that!

Do you know what really blows my mind? As soon as the Fall happened, God prophesied restoration. We don’t even need to wait for the next chapter, the Fall occurs in Chapter 3:1, and the answer is declared in Genesis 3:15, ‘he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel’. The Old Testament from the beginning in Genesis points forward to the day that Jesus will come and redeem our situation. And as you read the Old Testament, you will find little reminders that God already has a plan of redemption, the promise to Abraham of the ‘nations being blessed through him’ declares that the Messiah will come from his family line, not to mention the prophecies throughout the rest of the Old Testament.

How amazing! God already had a plan of redemption, no matter how bad the people got. But that is not all, what gets me so excited is that Isaiah has so many prophecies that have not come to pass; he prophecies the mountain of the LORD and the Church, the new heavens and new earth in Isaiah 65. So as you read Isaiah, I want you to write in your margins whether you think it’s about Jesus or the Future, and get ready to write because Isaiah is full of promises that we are yet to see.

Isaiah Part Two Dive

FORGET WALLY, FIND JESUS

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