“Who Will Believe Our Report?”
Isaiah 53:1
v1 Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
There is an interesting contrast in my home. My daughter is in college and has to write reports and essays for various classes. When preparing for such an assignment she is often stressed, depressed, and visibly frustrated. When the task is complete and her reports are turned in there is a noticeable difference in her appearance; the relief is written all over her face.
On the other hand, the stress, depression, and visible frustration that precedes my daughter’s school reports usually descends on me after I preach a sermon. Why? Because I possess the greatest news that anyone could ever receive and I am usually very excited to share it with others, but (like Isaiah) there are times when it seems that no one “has believed my report”!
The frustration that I and many other witnesses of the Lord experience is not a new phenomenon. In the Old Testament the people of Israel constantly rejected the messages that God sent them through His prophets. Throughout church history God’s Apostles, pastors, evangelists, and various others messengers have experienced ridicule & rejection when sharing the Gospel with unbelievers.
I am certain that there are many within this assembly who have been faithful to share the Gospel with others. In fact, often seen in a new convert is that natural desire to tell others what Jesus has done for them and to relate the reality that all who come to Jesus in faith can receive forgiveness and eternal life. If we are honest, that desire to share the Gospel begins to wane over time. I believe that one of the primary reasons for this is the frustration that comes from being consistently rejected by others.
Though such rejection is common and may even be understandable, it is no justification for us to neglect our responsibility and forfeit the opportunity to share Jesus with a lost and dying world.
I find great encouragement and inspiration in studying the lives and service of the Old Testament Prophets. Those men endured extreme opposition, physical persecution, and even death as a result of their service to the Lord and their faithfulness to share the messages that He had given them They were persistent even in spite of opposition and rejection.
I am reminded of one occasion when the Lord gave Jeremiah a message for the people; the LORD knew that they would not listen or obey, but He sent them a message through a faithful messenger. The LORD said in Jeremiah 7:27, “Therefore you shall speak all these words to them, but they will not obey you. You shall also call to them, but they will not answer you”.
Jeremiah's ministry was marked by opposition, imprisonment, and personal struggles. He often faced rejection, persecution, and isolation. Though he is referred to as “the weeping prophet”, Jeremiah was faithful to God’s call on his life.
As Christians we have been tasked with the responsibility to go forth and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the world around us. The sad reality is that far more people will reject your evangelistic efforts than will receive them. Regardless, you are expected to be obedient to the command of the Savior, even when it seems as if no one will “believe your report”.
- I would like for us to examine Isaiah’s question in Isaiah 53:1 and consider the thought, “Who Will Believe Our Report”.
The Old Testament records countless prophecies that God had given to His people, these prophecies contained explicit details concerning the Promised One. Many prophets before Isaiah had declared this “report” concerning the Messiah and several others would follow with this same message.
We do not have to look any further than the preceding verses for a summary of the “report” (or message) that God had sent through His prophets. Isaiah 52:13-15 traces the life of God’s Servant from His humble beginnings on through His earthly ministry. God also puts much emphasis on the suffering, death, resurrection, and exaltation of His Servant.
Isaiah 52:13 Behold, My Servant shall deal prudently;
He shall be exalted and extolled and be very high.
14 Just as many were astonished at you,
So His visage was marred more than any man,
And His form more than the sons of men;
15 So shall He sprinkle many nations.
Kings shall shut their mouths at Him;
For what had not been told them they shall see,
And what they had not heard they shall consider.
God’s Servant (Jesus) dealt prudently throughout His earthly ministry. He discerned and accomplished the will of the Father. As a result He was exalted in resurrection, lifted up in ascension, and glorified. After He ascended Jesus took His rightful place at the right hand of the Father.
Isaiah’s rhetorical question, "Who has believed our report?" is a reference to the limited reception of the message concerning God’s Suffering Servant. Isaiah’s “report” contained much information about a Servant of God who would be despised, rejected, and ultimately killed. However, it was through this Servant that God would bring salvation to mankind.
Isaiah was one of the mighty Prophets of God; we look to him as a “hero of the faith”, we admire his life & service, we speak his name with great reverence, and he serves as an example of a faithful servant of God. However, for the most part the people of Judah (those to whom Isaiah prophesied) did not accept his messages of warning and judgment. The people received his words with contempt, they rejected his prophecies, and they continued down a path of disobedience and injustice. In many cases, people will respond to your evangelistic efforts in the same way.
Before He ascended, Jesus left His followers with the promise that one day He would come again. We learn from Jesus that no man knows the day or the hour. Over the last 2,000 years many have foolishly tried (and failed) to predict the time of His return. I cannot tell you when Christ will return, but I do know that we are closer today than we were yesterday!
Since we possess such knowledge and assurance that our Lord and Savior is going to return; and since we know the consequences that await those who do not belong to Him, it is imperative for us to go forth and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ! This is not our great burden; it is our great privilege to share Jesus with others. With that being said, I must warn you that if you are involved in evangelism, if you are faithful to share Christ with others, you will be rejected!
There is nothing like those glorious moments when we have the opportunity to introduce someone to Jesus, however, nothing is quite as discouraging as seeing someone you love reject the Savior. When this happens, remember that you are in good company. People rejected the messages that were delivered by Isaiah and the other Prophets, people rejected the message of the Apostles, and multitudes rejected Jesus’ own preaching during His earthly ministry.
In his Gospel account, the Apostle John pointed out the fact that the people of Israel refused to believe in Jesus even though they had heard His authoritative teachings and witnessed His powerful miracles. John said: “But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: “Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” (John 12:37-38)
The first time Jesus came people were astonished by His appearance and actions. He did not fit their preconceived notions concerning the Messiah. The Jews were expecting a mighty conqueror, not a humble carpenter! Though there were a few faithful followers who recognized Jesus for who He was, the majority rejected Him. Their rejection led to His crucifixion.
As Christians we have “believed the report” concerning Jesus Christ. We have been washed in the precious blood of the Lamb, we have a personal relationship with the Savior, we have been redeemed, delivered from our sins, and raised to walk in newness of life.
Our loving God has given us a future, granted us eternal life, provided us with an eternal home in Heaven and a promised reunion with our loved ones. No matter what we face in this life, we have the assurance that one day we will see Jesus face to face. The Apostle John said, “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is”. (I John 3:2).
These are just some of the exciting realities that we are assured of as Christians. We believe these truths and we want to share them with others. When we do, is can be concerning, discouraging, and frustrating when they do not “believe our report”. Regardless, we must be faithful to share the good news of Jesus Christ.
Obedience is certainly a proper motive for evangelism, but coupled with our obedience should be love, compassion, and a desire for our friends, family, and even strangers to experience salvation through Jesus Christ.
God’s prophets were not just being obedient to the Lord’s call on their lives; these men possessed a great love for their fellow Israelites and they desired for them to listen to and obey the Word of the Lord. This love and compassion contributed to the discouragement and frustration that came as a result of being constantly rejected by the people they were sent to serve.
I have no doubt that Isaiah desperately wanted His kinsmen to “believe his report”. This same desire is apparent in the life and ministry of the Apostle Paul. This truth is especially prevalent in his words that are recorded in Romans 9:1-5. There he said: “I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.”
When people who have been touched by Jesus, get excited about Jesus, and tell others about Jesus, then sinners will come to Jesus; as a result, they will get excited and tell others, and then even more people will come to know the Savior!
In this message we have asked the question “Who Will Believe Our Report?”. I must admit that I cannot answer that question. I don’t know will believe your report concerning Jesus Christ. In fact, I cannot tell you if anyone will ever respond to your attempts to present the Gospel. For this reason it is important for me to remind you that you were not called to save people; you don’t possess that power! Your responsibility is simple, go and tell! All God expects us to do is plant and water seeds; He promises us in His word that He will provide the increase. We have been entrusted by our Lord with the responsibility of sharing the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ.
All around us are people who desperately need to hear this message. If we do not tell them, who will? Our children, siblings, parents, spouses, co-workers neighbors and strangers need to hear the wonderful news that Jesus saves. Time is short and it is imperative that we tell the world about God’s Servant who:
v4 …has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows…
v5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
v6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
v8 For the transgressions of My people He was stricken.
v12 And He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.
Who will believe your report? I do not know, but I know this, if just one soul hears the Gospel and responds to your evangelistic efforts, it will be worth all of the struggles, discouragements, and frustrations.
I leave you with some words of encouragement penned by Rodney Griffin of Greater Vison in his song "Just One More Soul". It says:
The preachers are weary
The singers are tired
The church as we know it
Is losing its fire
Some are discouraged from bearing the load
But we must determine to keep pressing on
'Cause if just one more soul
Were to walk down the aisle
It would be worth every struggle
It would be worth every mile
A lifetime of labor is still worth it all
If it rescues just one more soul
So preachers, keep preachin'
And singers, go sing
Laymen, keep sharing
That Jesus is King
The angels have gathered, they're surrounding the throne
And they'll start rejoicing for just one more soul
'Cause if just one more soul
Were to walk down the aisle
It would be worth every struggle
It would be worth every mile
A lifetime of labor is still worth it all
If it rescues just one more soul
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