A Prophet for all Time and Every Believer in Christ / Part 1

A Prophet for all time and Every Believer in Christ / Part 1

The Prophet Isaiah stands as the most quoted and adhered to with regards to Christ and the plan of God to redeem human beings.  For that reason the several articles ahead will divulge the many verses that this writer took time to open the grace of a Sacrificial Lamb who gave himself over for our sinfulness.

His narratives of the four Suffering Servant Songs are the most complete in-depth treatments of the depth God went to prove his forgiveness without cost to us.  If one seeks to find scripture that has a lot to do with sharing the Goodness of Almighty God, read some or all of this prophet;s description of a Savior who became one of us and willingly shed his Blood out of love.  

Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am well pleased, upon whom I have put my spirit; he shall bring forth justice to the nations, not crying out, not shouting, not making his voice heard in the street.  A bruised reed he shall not break, and a smoldering wick he shall not quench, until he establishes justice on the earth; the coastlands will wait for his teaching.  (Is 42: 1 - 4).  The first Suffering Song.  

Go to Matthew chapter 12 and find these words that exemplifies the prophecy of Isaiah regarding this Son of God in his mission to bring forgiveness to sinners who will seek him.  “When Jesus withdrew from this place many people followed him, and he cured them all, but he warned them not to make him known.”  (Jesus’ knowledge of the Pharisees’ plot and the healing are all peculiar to Matthew).   “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom I delight.”  

Note also, these words or a similar description are also found at the baptism of Jesus .  “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”  (Mt 3: 17).

As we begin this expose’ on the Suffering Servant take notice of the plan of God the Father to use his Son to redeem us in order to bring his Mercy to a head.

“Hear then, O Lord, my servant, Israel, whom I have chosen.  Thus says the Lord who made you, your help, who formed you from the womb:  Fear not, O Jacob, my servant, the darling whom I have chosen.  I will pour out water upon the thirsty ground, and streams upon the dry land.  I will pour out my spirit upon your offspring, and blessings upon your descendants.”  (Is 44: 1 - 3). 

Beginning with this first Suffering Servant Song and a promise from God if we trust in his word, we are drawn into a current reality that each one of us must be aware of;  to the corrupting influence that is slowly erasing the moral structure of all believers.  The whole scenario of this prophet's teaching is about the Savior, Jesus Christ.  This is the perfect time to reach into the essence of God’s mercy and seek to share the Passion of Christ as the immediate urgency for moral adherence.   

Ralph B. Hathaway