Day 207

Isaiah 52:13-57:21.  “Old Testament Gospel”

         From 52:13 to the end of chapter 53 nearly every verse has a prophetic statement of Jesus Christ and the suffering He was to endure.  It is central to the passage from chapter 40 to the end.  The section is broken up into five stanzas of three verses each.  The passage is quoted more frequently in the New Testament than any other Old Testament passage.  In fact, it is often referred to as the “gospel” in the Old Testament.
         The Hebrews anticipated a messianic (anointed) deliverer coming to save them from their enemies.  Generally, they felt He would come in the figure of a great political ruler.  Therefore, passages such as this one in Isaiah tended to be ignored.  The concept of a suffering Servant Messiah was one they would rather overlook.
         Jesus perfectly fulfilled all the prophecies of the Messiah.  Still, there is something somber to be reminded of His suffering.  Let the written descriptions become a visual description.  Don’t allow the words to let you miss the image, the pain, the humility, the rejection, the injustice, the price, the love, the sacrifice, etc.

General Questions for each day:
Summarize the day’s Bible passage in your own words.
What thoughts, actions, attitudes or beliefs are addressed in the passage?
How is the Holy Spirit leading you to apply this passage to your life today?