No 10

(Isaiah 53)

This very familiar passage that speaks of Jesus Christ and His redemptive work on the cross is well known to all true Christians; the narrative actually begins in chapter 52 verses 14, 15. We read in verse 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.” There is no doubt whatsoever that Isaiah was predicting that Jesus Christ would come and receive the punishment for all of mankind’s sins; Jews included, lest we forget that these verses were written to the Jews, God’s chosen people hundreds of years before He came to earth. At this time, the Jews were a stiff-necked and rebellious people; they were idolatrous and disobedient but still God loved them.

Many Jews have come to Jesus Christ for their salvation by reading this passage not having read it before. They hadn’t read it before because it has been left out of the Table of Scriptural Readings. You see, there are readings of the Bible (Old Testament) in Jewish synagogues on the Sabbath and on special holydays (Yom Kippur, Purim, Passover, etc). This passage is never read and hardly any Jews read the Bible at home because they are encouraged to read the Talmud (writings of past rabbis) and are absorbed in the traditions and the ceremonies of the religion. Therefore, if Christians are to lead Jews to the Lord Jesus Christ, they must utilize this passage just as Philip did in Acts 8:32, 33 when he spoke to the Ethiopian eunuch. The eunuch wanted to know of whom this passage spoke and the text reads “Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.” (v35) May we be as Philip – ready to confess Jesus when opportunities are given us.