Isaiah 53:1-2 (Cincinnati)

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Isaiah 53:1-2 (Preached in Cincinnati, OH) I. Isaiah 53 is arguably the greatest and most vivid prophecy of the Lord Jesus Christ in the entire Bible. 1. With the light of the New Testament (2Pe 1:19), this prophecy, along with others, provides us with inestimable insight into the sufferings and work of Christ (1Pe 1:10-11). 2. The subject of this great prophecy is Jesus Christ, but without the light of the New Testament, one might not know that (Act 8:32-35 c/w Isa 53:7-8). 3. In this study, we will walk through Isaiah 53 guided by the light provided in the New Testament, and, with the help of God’s illuminating grace, behold wondrous things out of His law (Psa 119:18). II. Isaiah 53 verse by verse 1. Isa 53:1 - Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? A. Who hath believed our report? i. This question implies that the prophecy of the sufferings of Christ which follows would not be believed by many. ii. Indeed, this was the case, for when He who was the fulfillment of this prophecy walked the earth, preached the kingdom, and did many miracles, many did not believe on Him (Rom 10:16; Joh 12:32-38; Joh 1:10-11). iii. Some of them could not believe because they were children of the devil who were incapable to hearing God’s words (Joh 8:43-47). iv. Others could not believe because God had judicially blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts to prevent them from believing (Joh 12:39-41 c/w Mar 4:11-12). B. and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? i. This question implies that the arm of the Lord was not revealed to all. ii. The gospel of Jesus Christ was hidden from the wise and prudent and revealed unto babes (humble children of God) (Mat 11:25-27). iii. The arm of the LORD is Jesus Christ whom He used to save His people from their sins (Isa 52:10 c/w Psa 98:1-3 c/w Isa 51:5 c/w Isa 59:16 c/w Isa 63:5 c/w Mat 1:21). iv. The arm of the LORD symbolizes His power and strength (Isa 40:10; Luk 1:51). v. All power was given unto the Lord Jesus Christ (Mat 28:18), which identifies Him as the arm of the LORD. 2. Isa 53:2 - For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. A. For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: i. Jesus was life (Joh 1:4-5; Joh 14:6; 1Jo 1:1-2) in a dark and dead world. ii. Jesus was the green tree among the dead forest of men (Luk 23:31). iii. He was born to a long line of sinners (dry ground) (Luk 3:23-38). iv. Jesus was the rod that came from the stem of Jesse and the branch that grew out of his roots (Isa 11:1). a. He was the prophesied son of David (Jesse’s son) (Mat 1:1; Mat 21:9; Mat 22:42). b. He was the Branch who was the Priest-King Messiah (Jer 33:15-18; Zec 6:12-13) and LORD Jehovah (Jer 23:5-6), the Word made flesh (Joh 1:1, 14). B. he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. i. Jesus was not a handsome man, even before His crucifixion and humiliation. a. Form n. - 1. a. The visible aspect of a thing; now usually in narrower sense, shape, configuration, as distinguished from colour; occasionally, the shape or figure of the body as distinguished from the face. b. Comeliness n. - 1. Pleasing appearance; gracefulness or beauty of form; handsomeness. c. He had no natural beauty nor impressive physique that would cause people to be attracted to Him. ii. After His scourging, abuse, and crucifixion His visage was marred more than any man (Isa 52:14). a. Visage n. – The face, the front part of the head, of a person. b. Marred adj. – Disfigured, mutilated. c. The soldiers pulled out his beard, spit in his face, and put a crown of thorns on His head (Isa 50:6; Mat 26:67; Mat 27:30; Mar 15:17). d. At this point, Jesus most certainly had no beauty that anyone would desire Him. iii. However, after His resurrection and glorification He is now the fairest of men (Psa 45:2-7 c/w Heb 1:8-9; Psa 110:3). a. Fair adj. – Beautiful to the eye; of pleasing form or appearance; good-looking. b. No longer may it be said that Jesus has no beauty that we should desire Him.