An astonishing prophecy - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing,
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Luke 22:37,

"It is written: 'And he was numbered with the transgressors'; and I
tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about
me is reaching its fulfillment."

Jesus told his disciples at the last supper what was written about him
was to now be fulfilled. So, what was this prophecy Jesus spoke of
that was to be fulfilled? There are many passages in the old testament
that foretold of the coming Messiah. The specific passage Jesus quoted
here is found in Isaiah 52:13-53:12. The portion provided us in Luke
22:37 comes from Isaiah 53:12.

The book of Isaiah was written in the last half of the eighth century
BC. An intact full copy of the book, dated from some two hundred years
before the birth of Jesus Christ was found among the Dead Sea Scrolls
and is within our possession today. Within the book of Isaiah are
passages foretelling the coming of Jesus Christ in startling detail
and accuracy. This passage of 52:13-53:12, the passage of the
Suffering Servant of the Lord, is simply astonishing and reveals very
specifically what Jesus Christ came to do seven centuries later. So
gripping and vivid an account, it ought to be read often and memorized
by us all. Here is that passage:

"See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and
highly exalted. Just as there were many who were appalled at him — his
appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form
marred beyond human likeness — so will he sprinkle many nations, and
kings will shut their mouths because of him. For what they were not
told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will
understand.

"Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been
revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root
out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised
and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we
esteemed him not.

"Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we
considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he
was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds
we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has
turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us
all.

"He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was
led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers
is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he
was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut
off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he
was stricken. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the
rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit
in his mouth.

"Yet it was the Lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and
though the Lord makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his
offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper
in his hand. After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of
life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will
justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. Therefore I will give
him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the
strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered
with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made
intercession for the transgressors."

Certainly, of everything ever written throughout the history of
mankind, this has be counted as one of the most astonishing and
riveting. This prophecy foretells the coming event that will for ever
change the course of human history: the coming of the Son of God to
make us a way into his family!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
your thoughts of worship from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!

Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com