If There Was Only One Chapter….

I can’t help but think if there was only one chapter in the Bible that would give the message of what God wants us to know, to take in, to process, to fashion our lives after, it would have to be Isaiah chapter 53. There’s a video on YouTube of a guy reading this chapter in Jerusalem to Jews. After he is finished reading it, he asks the simple question, “Who do you think this is about”? Every single person answers, “the Messiah”, yet they can’t admit Jesus is the Messiah. I don’t think it’s possible for every Bible-believing Christian to read this without responding with a humble, grateful heart and attitude. When I read this I think, “only God can speak into the future”. This was written hundreds of years before Jesus even walked the earth as a man. It tells us descriptively in detail exactly what was going to happen, why it would happen, and the result of what would happen. To me this is the most incredible thing God does. Knowing the future. Knowing how bad our behavior can and will be, and yet still extends His grace without even blinking still blows my mind. Living a life without God is the worst life anyone could live. I guess that’s why Hell is so offensive to some and no big deal to others. Those that live without God think nothing could be worse than this, because their lives have no meaning. If only they knew the truth. Read today’s passage and honestly ask God to put it into perspective. You’ll benefit greatly if you do.

1 Who has believed our message?To whom has the Lord revealed His powerful arm?2 My Servant grew up in the Lord’s presence like a tender green shoot,like a root in dry ground.There was nothing beautiful or majestic about His appearance,nothing to attract us to Him.3 He was despised and rejected–a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.We turned our backs on Him and looked the other way.He was despised, and we did not care. 4 Yet it was our weaknesses He carried;it was our sorrows that weighed Him down.And we thought His troubles were a punishment from God,a punishment for His own sins!5 But He was pierced for our rebellion,crushed for our sins.He was beaten so we could be whole.He was whipped so we could be healed.6 All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.We have left God’s paths to follow our own.Yet the Lord laid on Himthe sins of us all. 7 He was oppressed and treated harshly,yet He never said a word.He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.And as a sheep is silent before the shearers,He did not open His mouth.8 Unjustly condemned,He was led away.No one cared that He died without descendants,that His life was cut short in midstream.But He was struck downfor the rebellion of My people.9 He had done no wrongand had never deceived anyone.But He was buried like a criminal;He was put in a rich man’s grave. 10 But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush Himand cause Him grief.Yet when His life is made an offering for sin,He will have many descendants.He will enjoy a long life,and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in His hands.11 When He sees all that is accomplished by His anguish,He will be satisfied.And because of His experience,My righteous Servant will make it possiblefor many to be counted righteous,for He will bear all their sins.12 I will give Him the honors of a victorious soldier,because He exposed Himself to death.He was counted among the rebels.He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels. Isaiah 53:1-12