Isaiah 53:1-3
December 7, 2002
“Who hath believed our report?”
They did not believe the “report” in Isaiah’s time that Messiah was to come thru the seed of Abraham
They did not believe the “report” in Christ’s and the apostles time even though they had the scriptures.
Rom. 10:16-17 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
They do not believe the “report” in our time.
Of His person---of His sufferings---of His obedience---of full and free salvation
“To whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?”
The arm is the “power” of the Lord.
There is a difference between the “external” revelation and the “internal” revelation
The power of the Lord came in the message of the prophets.
The power of the Lord came in the gospel.
The greatest power of the Lord came in His Son.
He showed it in His miracles and teachings
they showed unbelief when He healed and they accused Him of breaking their traditions
they showed unbelief when they rejected Him as their Messiah
He showed it in His death and resurrection
“For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground...”
From His birth in a manger through His “growing up” it was a model of humbleness and submission.
Even the Wise Men came first to the palace to see Him
He came in a time of spiritual bankruptcy of the children of Israel.
“He hath no form nor comeliness, and when we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him”
What religious person is not attracted to a poor little baby?
To celebrate Christmas is not the same as believing that Christ is the Savior of the world.
The shame of the cross must be a part of the whole story of Jesus.
“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief:”
Had He been born in a palace, many would have followed Him.
Those that identify with Jesus must be willing to lay aside worldly fame.
Moses chose to “suffer affliction with the people of God”
“and we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was despised, and we esteemed Him not”
We are more attracted to a religion with pomp and ceremony and the latest religious fad
The extent of His rejection came at His death.
Where are we looking for Jesus today? In the pomp and ceremony of a man made religion or as a “man of sorrows”.
