Road Warriors: Isaiah—A Message of Redemption - Wednesday
Isaiah 40:3
A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” (NIV)
Winston Churchill was once asked to describe what qualified someone to be in politics. He replied, “A politician needs the ability to foretell what is going to happen tomorrow, next week, next month, and next year. And to have the ability afterwards to explain why it didn't happen.” Thankfully, the Bible gives us access to faithful people God called to help prepare the way for Jesus’ arrival. These prophets were so in tune with the Father that they never had to recant a word of what they spoke about the present state of things or the things that were to come. Moses made clear what distinguished a true prophet: “If the prophet speaks in the Lord’s name but his prediction does not happen or come true, you will know that the Lord did not give that message” (Deuteronomy 18:22, NLT).
Of the Old Testament books most quoted in the New Testament, Isaiah is second only to Psalms. There’s a clear link to the Gospel in the words and images given to the prophet Isaiah about 700 years before Jesus was even born. Jesus himself read directly from the book of Isaiah in that moment at the synagogue captured in Luke 4, where He unveiled His true identity and purpose.
The name Isaiah means “salvation of the Lord.” And salvation (deliverance, redemption) just happens to be the theme of his book. Isaiah opened the book with some strong statements about personal and communal sin. He was responding to the brokenness he saw but knew there was a promise of healing if people would only turn to the Father.
With the Spirit’s help, and with the advantage of seeing prophecy through the lens of things that have already occurred, we’ll spend the next two days looking at the pinnacle of Isaiah’s prophecy in the 53rd chapter of his book, as he foretells God's redemptive plan through Jesus.
Wednesday’s Reflection
In this moment, we have what those who died before Jesus didn’t have: the ability to see back in time through the cross. We can fully understand what Jesus meant when He said, “But this is the reason I came!” Take a moment and consider again the depth of love Jesus has for you, as shown through the cross.
