The words of the prophet Isaiah are quoted more often in the New Testament than those of any other Old Testament writer, over 40 times. Elder Gus Harter shows why: in Isaiah’s prophecy can be found the clearest picture of the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ and its substitutionary (or vicarious) effect on behalf of God’s children.
The lesson begins in Isaiah 52:13 and continues until the end of chapter 53. We are not left to doubt that these verses speak prophetically of Jesus Christ, for Philip affirmed it in his exposition of the passage for the Ethiopian eunuch in the book of Acts (8:32-35).
Elder Harter divides the text into 5 sections.
- The Shocking Servant, 52:13-15: a study of the dichotomy between Christ’s true nature and position and his lowly life and cruel death on the cross.
- The Sorrowing Servant, 53:1-3: Christ received little affirmation during his life on earth, but knew much of suffering and rejection.
- The Smitten Servant, 53:4-6: a picture of the substitionary, or vicarious, effect of Christ’s death: by his stripes, we are healed.
- The Silent Servant, 53:7-9: though sinless, Christ offered no defense, but willingly endured a miscarriage of earthly justice to satisfy divine justice.
- The Satisfied Servant, 53:10-12: God the Father and God the Son are both fully satisfied with the effect of Christ’s death and resurrection, the assurance of salvation for the elect.
God was satisfied by Christ’s finished work, and well-pleased with His Son, who now sits exalted at God’s right hand, the firstborn among many brethren.
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