Four hundred before
Jesus was born, the prophet Isaiah wrote a prophecy about the suffering servant
who would come and intercede for the sins of many people. In the past 2400
years, only one man has fulfilled that prophecy. Jesus fulfilled that prophecy
and no one else is even close. So if you believe that Isaiah was a prophet of
God then you should believe that Jesus is the intercessor who took our sins
upon himself so that we would be eternally healed. Otherwise you should rip the
book of Isaiah out of your Bible since Isaiah was obviously prophesying about
Jesus four hundred years before he was born. How do you know that what I am
saying is true? In Acts chapter 8, Phillip healed the lame and paralyzed and
when he was asked who the prophecy in Isaiah chapter 53 was about – he told the
person about the Good News of Jesus. So we have it on the authority of a person
who performed miracles through the power of God that Isaiah 53 is about Jesus.
Of course, you should also be aware that after 2400 years, no one else fits the
prophecy – so it is either Jesus or no one. So either Isaiah was a prophet and
Jesus is the intercessor for the sins of humanity - or Isaiah and the Jewish
prophets weren’t prophets sent by God to prepare humanity for the future.
Below are the
parallels between Isaiah’s prophecy and the mission of Jesus Christ to
intercede for the sins of humanity.
J.
Clontz – Editor of The Comprehensive New Testament
Isaiah 53:1 Who has
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 has 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…
Mark
6:1 He went away from there and came to his hometown. And his disciples
followed him. 2 And when the Sabbath had come, he began to teach in the
synagogue. And many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man
get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to this one, and such
mighty works performed by his hands! 3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of
Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not his sisters here
with us?” And they took offense at him. 4 And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is
not without honor except in his country, among his relatives, and in his
house.”
Isaiah 53:3 … a man
of sorrows, and acquainted with grief…
Luke
8:52 Now all were wailing and mourning for her; but he said, “Do not weep; for
she is not dead, but sleeping.”
Luke
19:41 And when he drew near and saw the city he wept over her, 42 saying, “If
you had known, even you, this day, the things that make for peace! But now they
are hidden from your eyes. 43 For the days will come upon you when your enemies
will build an embankment against you, and surround you and hem you in on every
side, 44 and dash you to the ground, you and your children within you, and they
will not leave one stone upon another in you; because you did not know the time
of your visitation.”
John
11: 31 The Jews who were with her in the house, and comforting her, when they
saw that Mary rose up quickly and went out, followed her, supposing that she
was going to the tomb to weep there. 32 Then Mary, when she came where Jesus
was and saw him, fell to his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here,
my brother would not have died.” 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews
who came with her also weeping, he groaned in the spirit and was troubled. 34
And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.”
35 Jesus wept. 36 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 37 But some of
them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this
man from dying?” 38 Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a
cave, and a stone lay against it.
Isaiah 53:3… and we
hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Luke
4:28 When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. 29 And
they rose up and cast him out of the city, and led him to an edge of the hill
on which their city was built, so that they might throw him down the cliff.
John
7:52 They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Search and look, and you will
find that no prophet rises out of Galilee.”
Isaiah 53:4 Surely
he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows…
Luke
7:12 As he came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried
out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from
the city was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and
said to her, “Do not weep.” 14 Then he came and touched the open coffin, and
those who carried him stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you,
arise.” 15 The dead man sat up, and began to speak. And he gave him to his
mother.
Luke
8:54 But he took her by the hand and called, saying, “Child, arise.” 55 Then
her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something
should be given her to eat. 56 And her parents were astonished, but he charged
them to tell no one what had happened.
John
11:39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man,
said to him, “Lord, by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been dead four
days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you would believe you
would see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted
up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew
that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing
by, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said this, he cried
with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and
feet bound with grave clothes, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to
them, “Loose him, and let him go.” 45 Many of the Jews therefore, who had come
to Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him.
Isaiah 53:4 …yet we
did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
46
But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47
Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the Sanhedrin, and said,
“What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. 48 If we let him go on
like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away
both our place and our nation.” 49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high
priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all! 50 You do not
consider that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people,
and that the whole nation not perish.” 51 He did not say this on his own, but
being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation,
52 and not for that nation only, but also that he would gather together into
one the children of God who were scattered abroad. 53 So from that day on they
plotted to put him to death.
Isaiah 53:5 But he
was wounded for our transgressions…
Hebrews 9:14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who
through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, cleanse our
conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 For this reason he is
the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the
promised eternal inheritance, now that he has died as a ransom to set them free
from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.
Isaiah 53:5 …he was
bruised for our iniquities…
Luke 18:31 Then he took the twelve aside and said to
them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written of
the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. 32 For he will be
delivered to the Gentiles, and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. 33
They will scourge him and kill him, and on the third day he will rise again.”
Isaiah 53:5 …the
chastisement of our peace was upon him; …
Luke 23:16 I will therefore chastise him and release
him.” (17) 18 But they all cried out together, “Away with this man, and release
to us Barabbas” – 19 a man who was thrown into prison for an insurrection in
the city, and for murder. 20 But wanting to release Jesus, Pilate addressed
them again. 21 But they shouted, “Crucify, crucify him!” 22 Then he said to
them the third time, “Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no crime
deserving death. I will therefore chastise him and release him.”
Matthew 27:25 And all the people answered, “His blood be
on us and on our children!” 26 Then he released Barabbas to them. And when he
had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. 27 Then the soldiers of
the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison
around him. 28 And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him. 29 And when
they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on his head, and a reed in his
right hand. And they bowed the knee before him and mocked him, saying, “Hail,
King of the Jews!” 30 And they spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on
the head. 31 And when they had mocked him, they took the robe off him, and put
his own clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him.
Isaiah
53:5 …and with his stripes we are healed.
1Peter 2:24 He bore our sins in his own body on the tree,
so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness. By his wounds you have
been healed.
Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone
astray; we have turned every one to his own way…
Matthew
26:31 Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this
night; for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the
flock will be scattered.’”
John 16:32 Behold, the hour is coming, and has come, when
you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave me alone. And yet I am
not alone, for the Father is with me.
Matthew 26:56 But all this has taken place, that the
Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples forsook
him and fled.
1Peter 2:25
For you were straying like sheep
Isaiah 53:6 …and
the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
1Peter 2:24 He
bore our sins in his own body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live
for righteousness.
Isaiah 53:7 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 opened not his
mouth.
Matthew
26:62 And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What
is it that these men testify against you?” 63 But Jesus remained silent.
Matthew
27:12 But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he made no
answer. 13 Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they
testify against you?” 14 But he gave him no answer, not even to a single
charge; so that the governor wondered greatly.
John 19:9 and he went again into the Praetorium and said
to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. 10 So Pilate said
to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release
you, and power to crucify you?”
1Peter 2:21 For to this you have been called, because
Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in
his steps. 22 “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” 23
When he was reviled, he did not revile in return. When he suffered, he uttered
no threats, but he trusted himself to him who judges justly.
Isaiah 53:8 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.
1Peter 2:24 He
bore our sins in his own body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live
for righteousness.
Matthew 27:21 The governor answered them, “Which of the two do you want me
to release to you?” They said, “Barabbas!” 22 Pilate said to them, “Then what
shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be
crucified!” 23 And he said, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all
the more, “Let him be crucified!” 24 When Pilate saw that he was gaining
nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his
hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. See to it
yourselves.” 25 And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our
children!” 26 Then he released Barabbas to them. And when he had scourged
Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.
Isaiah 53:9 And he made his grave with the
wicked…
Luke
23:32 Two others, criminals, were also led with him to be put to death. 33 And
when they came to the place called “The Skull,” there they crucified him, and
the criminals, one from the right and the other from the left.
Isaiah 53:9 …and
with the rich in his death…
Matthew
27: 57 And when it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named
Joseph, who had himself also become a disciple of Jesus. 58 He went to Pilate
and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. 59
When Joseph took the body, he wrapped it [in] a clean linen cloth, 60 and laid
it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out of the rock. And he rolled a
great stone to the door of the tomb, and departed.
Isaiah 53:9 …because
he had done no violence…
Luke 23:13 Pilate then called together the chief priests,
the rulers, and the people, 14 and said to them, “You have brought this man to
me as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. And behold, having examined
him in your presence, I have found no guilt in this man concerning those
charges which you make against him; 15 neither did Herod, for he sent him back
to us. Behold, nothing deserving death has been done by him.
Isaiah 53:9 …
neither was any deceit in his mouth.
1Peter 2:22 “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found
in his mouth.”
Isaiah 53:10 Yet it
pleased the LORD to bruise him; he has put him to grief…
Mark
14:65 Then some began to spit on him, and to blindfold him, and to beat him,
and to say to him, “Prophesy!” And the guards received him with blows.
Isaiah 53:10 …when
you shall 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.
Romans
8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weakened through the flesh,
God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin: he
condemned sin in the flesh.
Ephesians
5:2 And walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a
fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Hebrews
10:10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body
of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest stands daily at his service,
offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.
12 But when this one had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat
down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies be
made a stool for his feet. 14 For by one offering he has perfected for all time
those who are sanctified.
Isaiah 53:11 He
shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied…
Matthew
26:38 Then he said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death.
Stay here and watch with me.”
Isaiah 53:11 … by
his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their
iniquities.
Romans
5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still
sinners Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by
his blood, much more shall we be saved through him from the Wrath. 10 For if,
when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son,
much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 Not only so,
but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have
now received our reconciliation. 12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world
through one man, and death through sin, so death spread to all men, because all
men sinned. 13 (For sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is
not counted when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to
Moses, even over those whose sins were not like the transgression of Adam, who
was a type of the one who was to come).
Isaiah 53:12
Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the
spoil with the strong; because he has poured out his soul unto death…
Luke
23:46 And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I
commit my spirit.” And having said this, he breathed his last.
Isaiah 53:12 …and
he was numbered with the transgressors…
Mark
15:27 And with him they crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on his
left. 28 So the scripture was fulfilled which says, “He was numbered with the
transgressors.”
Isaiah 53:12 …and
he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
Romans
8:34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ [Jesus], who died, yes, who was
raised, who is at the right hand of God, who is also interceding for us.
Hebrews
7:22 Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of [an even] better
covenant. 23 The former priests were many in number, because they were
prevented by death from continuing in office. 24 But he holds his priesthood
forever, because he continues forever. 25 Therefore he is able also to save
forever those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make
intercession for them. 26 For it
was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless,
unstained, separated from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27 He does not
need, like those high priests, to offer up daily sacrifices, first for his own
sins and then for the sins of the people, because he did this once for all when
he offered up himself. 28 For the Law appoints men as high priests who are
weak. But the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son who
has been made perfect forever.