Isaiah’s Prophesy
While reading through the book of Isaiah recently, I was again reminded of the many Messianic prophesies of Jesus. Isaiah wrote about 700 years before the birth of Christ, but the words he wrote all came true.
In Isaiah 7:14 we read, “Therefore the Lord Himself give you a sign: behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.” (NASB) Immanuel means God with us. We read in the gospels the birth of our Lord. Matthew 1:23 the words of Isaiah are given to Joseph, Mary’s betrothed in a dream. The child is named Jesus, which means Savior. Luke 2:1-7 also records His birth, just as Isaiah had prophesied.
In Isaiah 9:6-7, we are instructed about the names He was called. “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. 7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.” As Jesus walked on the face of the earth, all of these things were true about Him. Jesus is the one who was “given all authority in heaven and on earth,” Matthew 28:18. His church has been established, and we can all be members of it by obeying the teachings of the New Testament.
Isaiah also gave a very harsh picture of what would happen to Christ. He would be rejected by His own people and be crucified for the sins of the world. Please note the words in Isaiah 53:5, “But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed.” Take time to read the entire chapter of Isaiah 53 and then read John’s account of this in John 18-19. Jesus cared about each and every person and died to give them salvation from their sins and the hope of eternity with God in heaven when this life on earth is over.
None of us can be sure of the exact date of the birth of our Lord. If He had never been born, if the prophesies about Him had failed, then none of us could have the salvation that comes through His precious blood. Many people celebrate His birth on the 25th of each December. If this (and Easter) are the only times we are thinking of the Christ, we are the losers for sure. We must seek Him each day of our lives. “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33