Bible Pathways 8/11/2001

August 11

Read Isaiah 52 -- 57

God revealed to Isaiah that the Messiah, the King of kings, would be My Servant . . . He shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high (Isaiah 52:13). But Jesus our Lord, in humility and meekness, did not assert His rights and set up His rightful Kingdom by force.

Jesus came as the Servant (of God), as the Suffering Savior, but He will soon return highly exalted and extolled as the King of kings. Because the Jews were looking only for a warrior-king, like David, to deliver them from the oppression of Rome, they would not accept their Messiah as the Suffering Savior. Isaiah also foretold the Israelites' response: Who has believed our report? . . . He shall grow up . . . as a tender Plant, and as a Root out of a dry ground (53:1-2). Dry ground illustrates the spiritual condition of the religious world that existed at the time of Jesus. From the world's point of view, there is no beauty that we should desire Him (53:2).

Jesus the Servant came from a common carpenter's family and grew up in the unimportant town of Nazareth in Galilee (9:1; Matthew 4:15). He was a Man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief (afflictions) . . . He was despised (Isaiah 53:3). He was violently forced out of the synagogue in His hometown. On another occasion, many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him (John 6:66). Only a few of the religious leaders in Israel acknowledged Him as the Messiah (7:48). They did not esteem Him (Isaiah 53:3). This means that the majority of people refused to accept Jesus for who He really is -- the Great God of Creation and the Savior Messiah who will soon return to rule the world.

The Servant King humbled Himself by becoming a Man and accepted the sins of all mankind when He died on the cross. Thereby, He provided salvation for all who confess their guilt, repent of their sins, and yield their lives to Him. Even then, all of us from time to time fall short of what God desires us to be. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin (I John 1:7). Jesus continues to make intercession for us with the Father on the basis of His death in our place for our sins (Isaiah 53:12; Hebrews 7:25).

Surely He has borne our griefs (weaknesses and distresses), and carried our sorrows (Isaiah 53:4). The word translated sorrows means emotional as well as physical needs of every kind. The chastisement of our peace was upon Him (53:5) His death on the cross ended the enmity between sinful man and the Righteous Creator God. This means that all repentant believers, Jew and Gentile alike, receive eternal life through the death of the sinless Son of God when they receive Him as their Savior and Lord. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12).

Christ Revealed: As the One who was rejected by His own people (Isaiah 53:3; compare Luke 23:18; John 1:11); remained silent when He was falsely accused (Isaiah 53:7; Mark 15:4-5); was buried with the rich (Isaiah 53:9; Matt. 27:57-60); and was crucified with sinners (Isaiah 53:12; Mark 15:27-28).

Word Studies: 52:1 uncircumcised means heathen; 52:10 made bare his holy arm means revealed His power; 52:12 rereward means rearguard; 52:14 visage means appearance; 57:4 sport means ridicule; 57:17 frowardly means rebelliously.

Prayer Needs:
Government Official: Sen. Tim Hutchinson (AR) · Pray for Adam Lock and the Bible Pathway International Shortwave Radio Broadcasts on WWCR, Nashville TN · Pray for the Bible Pathway International Radio broadcast sponsored by Mrs. Robert Miller · Country: Sweden (9 million) in northern Europe · Major language: Swedish · Religious freedom · 66% Protestant; 2% Roman Catholic; .7% Eastern Orthodox · Prayer Suggestion: Pray in one accord with other Christians (Acts 1:14).

Optional Reading: I Peter 1

Memory Verse for the Week: Romans 6:12-13