Chapter Two
Jesus Christ Our Salvation
In this chapter we will be looking at Old Testament prophecies which will reveal Jesus Christ as our Savior. Some of these prophecies will reflect his suffering on the cross, and we will see through these prophecies the Lord’s salvation plan for us revealed in Old Testament times written hundreds of years before Jesus went to the cross. The Lord prophesied hundreds of years beforehand what his salvation plan for us would be. Peter spoke about this fact in 1 Peter 1:10-12. Peter refers to the Old Testament Prophets in verse ten, and writes how the Old Testament Prophets testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ in verse eleven, and he explains how the Lord’s salvation plan for us was revealed to the Old Testament Prophets in verse twelve. It was revealed to them so they could write about it beforehand, so we would know that the sufferings of Jesus was the Lord’s will, and he suffered for our salvation. Here is 1 Peter 1:10-12 "Of such salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that would follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves; but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into."
It was the will of God that Jesus suffer on the cross for our salvation, and Jesus went to the cross willingly. Jesus prayed to the Father in Matthew 26:39, and he said Father "not as I will, but as you will." Jesus knew he was about to be crucified, and he knew he would suffer, but he was implying to let it be, because he also knew it was the Father’s will. He also knew that glory would follow his sufferings, because it was in that same garden and same time, while he was praying, when he prayed for the Father to glorify him with the same glory he had with the Father before the world was that we read about in John 17:5. Jesus afterwards was raised from the dead, ascended into heaven as the scriptures reveal, where he sits on right hand of God in all of his glory. Peter wrote about the glory that followed in the scripture above in 1 Peter 1:11.
God prophesied about Jesus in Genesis 3:15 when he was speaking to the serpent that tempted Eve to sin in the Garden of Eden. Genesis
The woman in this verse is Eve, because she is called the mother of all living in Genesis 3:20. She is also the woman the serpent tempted and lied to in the Garden of Eden, and she is the woman who had just sinned, and God was dealing with the serpent about it. Seed in this verse means offspring, and the serpent and the woman Eve would have offspring or descendants thereafter. The whole human race is the natural or biological offspring of Eve, but the serpent’s seed would not be of a biological nature. The serpent’s seed would refer to those who would serve Satan the Devil, and do evil after his likeness.
The pronoun "his" in the last phrase of this verse "thou shall bruise his heel" limits this seed to one specific person or individual. The word "it" in the phrase "it shall bruise thy head" is translated "he" in some Bible translations.
This is interpreted by many Christians and Bible Scholars as a prophecy of Jesus, who is the seed (offspring) of Eve, who was born out of the human race, who would bruise the head of the serpent, and be a Savior, who would save his people from their sins.
We might also consider the timing when God gave this prophecy. God had just confronted Adam in the eleventh verse of this chapter regarding his sin. Adam blames the woman Eve in verse twelve. Eve blames the serpent in verse thirteen. God curses the serpent in verse fourteen, but in verse fifteen God had to deal with the sin factor. The first thing God did in verse fifteen when dealing with sin was prophesy about a Savior, who would save his people from sin and the penalty of sin.
We should consider what the Angel of the Lord said to Joseph concerning Mary in Matthew
God knew that we would need atonement for our sins. Adam and Eve were completely innocent of sin before this time, but now they had sinned, and they were guilty of sin before God. God knew that the seed or offspring of Adam and Eve would inherit their sinful nature, and this includes the whole human race except Jesus. Jesus was innocent without sin. His blood was holy blood, because he was the biological Son of our Father in Heaven. Jesus has the nature of his Father in Heaven.
The rest of the human race inherited the sinful nature of Adam and Eve. David said in Psalm 51:5 "Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me."
Paul writes in Romans
God knew there was no way we ourselves could atone for our sins, or be righteous because of our sinful nature, and there was no way God would allow any sin or person with a sinful nature into Heaven. We would all be doomed to eternity in hell which is the penalty of our sins, so God sent Jesus into the world to shed his Holy Blood as atonement for our sins because God loved us so much. He wants us to be with him for eternity, but our sins have to be washed away by the blood of Jesus first, so we are clean before his eyes. Hebrew
I will ask the reader to remember that Jesus Christ pre-existed in Old Testament times, that is why Peter said the Spirit of Christ was in the Old Testament Prophets in First Peter 1:11. God is not subject to time, because God created time, and we also learn from scriptures that Jesus Christ is our Creator, so the Spirit of Christ in the Old Testament Prophets was not subject to time. The Spirit of Christ could feel the suffering of Jesus hundreds of years before Jesus was born, because all time is as the same time to the Spirit of Christ. This should be understood by the reader as we look at the next several Old Testament prophecies, which will clearly reveal God’s salvation plan for us. The reader should also understand that it was the Spirit of Christ, who inspired the Old Testament writers as they wrote, and Jesus Christ is called the Word of God, and I believe all scripture was written through him before and after his birth. In the beginning the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1
There are several prophecies of Jesus in Isaiah chapter 53, and God’s salvation plan is clearly revealed in Isaiah chapter 53, but we will first look at a prophecy in Isaiah 50:6, and then work our way to Isaiah 53. Isaiah 50:6 "I gave my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting." This prophecy was given several hundred years before Jesus was born, but the Spirit of Christ could feel the humiliation of Jesus hundreds of years beforehand, because the Spirit of Christ is not subject to time. Jesus did suffer much humiliation when he was beaten, mocked, and spit upon. His hair was also plucked off. It was perhaps when they blindfolded him, saying, "Who hit you?" while they were mocking and making fun of him.
Luke 22:63, 64, and 65 say "And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him. And they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and ask him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?"
Matthew 26: 67and 68 "Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands, saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ. Who is he that smote thee?" Jesus continued to suffer humiliation throughout his crucifixion as he hung naked on the cross in front of his mother and all of his friends.
Proverbs
The next prophecy of Jesus is written in Isaiah 52:13, 14, and 15. This prophecy was spoken by God (Spirit of Christ). I will comment on it afterwards. Isaiah 52:13, 14, 15 says "Behold my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. As many were astonished at thee; his visage was marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men: So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouth at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider."
The scripture above says my servant (Jesus) shall deal prudently (wisely). Jesus through wisdom suffered humility, and then was exalted to Glory, and sits on the right hand of God. Proverbs 15.33 "The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honor is humility." It also says his visage (appearance) was so marred (disfigured) more than any man. Jesus was beaten so severely at the hands of Pilate’s soldiers his appearance was perhaps disfigured beyond recognition. The word sprinkle would signify a spiritual purification of the nations. I like to think of water baptism and the baptism of his Holy Spirit, but I also think of how blood was sprinkled for the atonement of sin in the Old Testament. The Epistle First John 5:8 says "And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one." Jesus will purify all the nations on earth when he returns, but we are purified through water and spiritual baptism, and his blood is what washes our sins away.
Paul quotes in Romans 15:21 the last words of Isaiah chapter 52 above "for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider." Romans
This prophecy continues into and throughout chapter 53. We will look at several prophecies of Jesus that point to the cross, and God’s salvation plan is clearly revealed.
Isaiah 53:1"Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?" Isaiah 53:1 is quoted as being fulfilled at the time of the ministry of Jesus in John 12:37, 38 "But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: That the sayings of Esaias (Isaiah) the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? And to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?" (See also Romans 10:16)
Isaiah 53:3 "He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not." Jesus has been rejected my most of the human race for two thousand years. There are many in the world today, who are ashamed or embarrassed to even mention the name of Jesus, and he is rejected without cause. We should consider what Jesus said in Matthew 10: 32and 33 "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven." Jesus doesn’t want us to deny or reject him. He wants us to love him as he loves us with open arms ready to receive us. Yet! There are still many in the world today, who continue to mock his name, and mock those who preach his name. John
Isaiah 53:4 "Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted." This prophecy is quoted as pertaining to Jesus Christ in Matthew 8:16and 17 "When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias (Isaiah) the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses."
Our "griefs" in the phrase "borne our griefs" in Isaiah 53:4 above are translated "infirmities" in the New International Version of the Bible. The New International Version also translates the word "sicknesses" in Matthew 8:16 and 17 above as "diseases." The sicknesses in Matthew 8:16 above were demonic in nature caused by demons. Demons are evil in nature; they are servants of Satan the Devil. The works of Satan is to destroy God’s creation on earth, but Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil.
Isaiah 53:5 "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."
Peter quotes this verse in the First Epistle of Peter 2:24 "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes we are healed."
The prophecy above says he was wounded (pierced) for our transgressions. It relates best to when he had his hands and feet pierced, or when they pierced his side with a spear. He was bruised (crushed) for our iniquities. It says "with his stripes we are healed." Stripes would mean the lashes he took when he was whipped. The whip that he was whipped with had a steal ball at the end of it, and the ball had spikes sticking out of it. Those spikes would rip deep into his body tearing it to threads. His body was torn to threads, so we could receive healing in our bodies. Matthew 27:26, Mark 15:15 and John 19:1 says that he was scourged, which means he was whipped or flogged harshly. Jesus paid the price for our physical healing as well as our salvation. He was wounded and bruised for our iniquities, but he was also whipped harshly for our healing. Jesus wants us to be healed. He healed many people during his ministry, but Jesus said in John 14:12 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father." This means he still works through his people today. He’s still healing people today!
Isaiah 53:6 "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." God’s salvation plan for us is being revealed in the words "and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." Jesus died on the cross for our sins and iniquities, so our sins and iniquities can be forgiven, and are relationship with God can be restored, because sin is what keeps us separate from God. Our sins were laid on Jesus at the cross, so we would not have to suffer the penalty of sin, but only if we receive him. Those who reject him are rejecting his salvation, and they will suffer the penalty of their sin. God’s salvation plan will be clearer further into this chapter, so keep reading! Don’t close this book now! Remember! This is being prophesied hundreds of years before Jesus was born. God prophesied it beforehand, so we know it was his salvation plan and will.
Two Prophecies of Jesus were written in Isaiah 53:7. "He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth." The first prophecy says "he opened not his mouth". Jesus did not open his mouth when he was brought before Pilate, and was being accused by the chief priest and elders in Matthew 27:12, 13, and 14. "And when he was accused of the chief priest and elders, he answered nothing. Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marveled greatly." See also Matthew 26:62,63, Mark 15:5, Luke 23:9, John 19:9, Psalm 38:13, Psalm 39:2,9, First Peter 2:23.
The second prophecy in Isaiah 53:7 says "He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter." Acts 8:32 quotes this prophecy. Acts 8:32 "The place of scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so he opens not his mouth:"
Jesus was the lamb brought to slaughter prophesied in Isaiah 53:7. John the Baptist said "Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sins of the world" when he saw Jesus in John 1:29. The blood of lambs was shed throughout the Old Testament times for the atonement of sins, because lambs were figurative or were a for shadow of Jesus who would come as a lamb later to shed his blood for the atonement of sin.
Revelation 13:8 refers to Jesus as the Lamb who was slain from the foundations of the earth. This means that Jesus was already God’s chosen Lamb to be sacrificed for the atonement of sin way back when the earth was created, because God is not subject to time, and God could see beforehand that sin would come into the world, and he chose Jesus Christ who was with him in the beginning to be his Lamb, who would redeem us back to himself, by shedding his blood on the cross as a lamb led to slaughter.
Cain and Abel were the sons of Adam and Eve, who made sin offerings to the Lord, but the Lord rejected Cain’s offering and approved Abel’s offering. He approved of Abel’s offering because Abel was a tender of sheep. Abel’s offering was a blood offering which for shadowed Jesus on the cross four thousand years later. Cain was a tiller of the ground. He specialized in plants and vegetation. His offering was most likely a plant of some sort. Genesis 4:3 says Cain’s offering was of the fruit of the ground. God rejected Cain’s offering because it was not a blood offering. Remember that Hebrews 9:22 says without the shedding of blood there is no remission (forgiveness) of sins.
Lambs became a for shadow or figurative of Jesus on the cross from the creation of the world, and we see it beginning with Abel, and continuing throughout the Levitical Priesthood, which God set up through Moses and Aaron .
The ram (male lamb) which was provided by God for Abraham to sacrifice in place of Isaac in Genesis Chapter 22 was figurative of Jesus on the cross. God said to Abraham that through his seed all the nations of the earth would be blessed, because Abraham did not withhold his only son. Paul says in Galatians 3:16 that Jesus was the seed of Abraham. All nations are blessed through Jesus who was the seed of Abraham. It was almost like God was thinking that Abraham didn’t withhold his only son, so God spared Isaac, and provided the ram for Abraham to sacrifice in Isaac’s place, because the ram was figurative of Jesus who is God’s only begotten Son, so God did not withhold his Son like Abraham didn’t withhold his.
Jesus was the Lamb slain in Revelation 5:6, who is worthy to open the book of seven seals. He is the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne in Revelation 7:17, and the Lamb of the twelve apostles in Revelation 21:14. Revelation 12:11 says we can overcome the serpent who is called the Devil and Satan by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. Revelation 7:14 speaks about them who came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb. Revelation 19:6-9 speaks about the marriage supper of the Lamb when Jesus and his bride (The Church) are together. He is the Lamb who shall be the light of the new city of Jerusalem which shall descend down from heaven in Revelation 21:23.
Glory and Honor and Praise to Jesus Christ the Lamb of God, for he is the Lamb of God who was crucified on the cross for the sins of his people, who have their names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life in Revelation 20:12 and 21:27.
Isaiah 53:8 "He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken." When we read the words "for he was cut out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken" We can clearly see that Jesus died for the transgressions of God’s people. These are people who have truly repented of their sins, and turned away from their transgressions. I will continue making the point that this was prophesied by God himself hundreds of years before Jesus was crucified. God revealed his salvation plan for us beforehand, and it was the Spirit of Christ who was in these Old Testament Prophets, who wrote these prophecies according to Peter in 1 Peter 1:11, because Jesus Christ is the Word, who was with God, and was God in the beginning.
Isaiah 53:9 "And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth." The phrase "he made his grave with the wicked" in this prophecy is most likely referring to the two thieves who were crucified along with Jesus, because verse 12 of this chapter says "he was numbered with the transgressors." I believe this means he was crucified as a transgressor, even thou he was sinless and innocent without sin. Our sins were laid upon him, so he was crucified as a transgressor because of our sins and transgressions, because he was actually paying the penalty of our sins. Reference is made about this in Mark 15:27, 28 "And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left. And the scripture was fulfilled, which, saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors."
Isaiah 53:9 above also says he made his grave with the rich. Jesus did make his grave with the rich. There was a rich man of Arimathaea named Joseph, who went to Pilot after Jesus had died, and begged Pilot for the body of Jesus. This rich man named Joseph had the body of Jesus put in a tomb, which was a tomb like rich people would be buried in. Matthew 27:57-60 "When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus: He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulcher, and departed." Mark, Luke, and John also wrote about Joseph from Arimathaea, so it is recorded in all four Gospels.
Isaiah 53:10 "Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shall make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand." God makes it very clear in the words "when thou shall make his soul an offering for sin" what his salvation plan for us is. I don’t believe as a writer that I can write it any clearer. Jesus is the Lamb of God who was offered for our sins. The phrase "he shall see his seed" means that Jesus will see his spiritual offspring. His spiritual seed or offspring is the church, which is made up of all his people, who worship, serve, and praise him. The serpent has spiritual seed or offspring who will serve him, which we read about in Genesis 3:15, but the good news is that Jesus Christ also has spiritual seed and offspring who serve him. The church or seed of Jesus Christ is in the process of being conformed to the image of Jesus. Romans 8:29 "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that we might be the firstborn among many brethren." The church is made up of spiritual brothers and sisters, who are spiritually born again in the image or likeness of Jesus Christ. The Serpent who is called Satan and the Devil has spiritual offspring in the world who are liken unto his image, who are in continue rebellion against the Lord. Jesus said you can’t serve two masters recorded in Matthew 6:24 and Luke 16:13. We are either serving the Lord Jesus Christ or we are serving Satan the Devil. We should consider what Jesus said in Matthew 12:30 "He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathers not with me scatters abroad."
The words "he shall prolong his days" refer to the resurrection of Jesus. God prolonged the days of Jesus by raising him from the dead. Jesus is alive today! He sits on the right hand of God Almighty. He makes intercession for transgressors, which is recorded in verse 12 of this chapter. He pleads for sinners to be saved. Consider the last words in Isaiah 53:10 above which say "and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand." I believe this is referring to when Jesus ascended into Heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. Jesus is the pleasure of his Father in Heaven. His Father in Heaven delights in him. I believe Jesus ascended into Heaven, and prospered in the right hand of his Father Almighty.
The last two verses in Isaiah 53 will summarize up God’s salvation plan very well, so it should be very clear for the reader after reading the information already given previously throughout this chapter, so I will not comment on the last two verses, but I rather hope the reader will see it for him or herself, so please read carefully the last two verses in this chapter. Isaiah 53:11, 12 "He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors."
