Your personal story of Isaiah 53 being skipped is telling. As I was pondering how bad this is I was convicted that I do this through focus. When a passage supports my theology it is very important. When one doesn't it is amazing how I can read through it while thinking about my grocery list. Back to your article - I appreciated this as I have always wondered why this isn't such a slam dunk for my Jewish friends. Figured as smart as your people are they would have a theology to handle it. While it seems obviously weak to me I certainly have a better understanding of it. What do you think the best passage about Jesus is in the OT?
Thanks again for reading these articles and for sharing your good thoughts. As for an Old Testament passage that speaks clearly about Jesus, it is hard to find a more significant one than Isaiah 53.
I was thinking about Psalms 110. - The verse "The Lord said to my Lord" is one of the most frequently quoted Old Testament verses in the New Testament, directly applied by Jesus and the apostles to reveal the divine identity of the Messiah. AND I agree that Isaiah 53 is probably in the top two two regardless. Gen 3:15 is also hauntingly prophetic. I bet religious Jews that stumble on this post will think we are crazy with how much Jesus we see in the OT, but once you see it... you can't unsee it.
I thoroughly enjoyed this. I never knew that that chapter was not used by religious Jews.
Thank you for reading these posts Sharon. Very grateful.
Glad this article was helpful.
Thank you for the awesome post. I knew of the corporate interpretation of Isaiah 53, but had no idea where or why it originated. Very enlightening.
Glad it was helpful.
Your personal story of Isaiah 53 being skipped is telling. As I was pondering how bad this is I was convicted that I do this through focus. When a passage supports my theology it is very important. When one doesn't it is amazing how I can read through it while thinking about my grocery list. Back to your article - I appreciated this as I have always wondered why this isn't such a slam dunk for my Jewish friends. Figured as smart as your people are they would have a theology to handle it. While it seems obviously weak to me I certainly have a better understanding of it. What do you think the best passage about Jesus is in the OT?
Hi Jeff,
Thanks again for reading these articles and for sharing your good thoughts. As for an Old Testament passage that speaks clearly about Jesus, it is hard to find a more significant one than Isaiah 53.
I was thinking about Psalms 110. - The verse "The Lord said to my Lord" is one of the most frequently quoted Old Testament verses in the New Testament, directly applied by Jesus and the apostles to reveal the divine identity of the Messiah. AND I agree that Isaiah 53 is probably in the top two two regardless. Gen 3:15 is also hauntingly prophetic. I bet religious Jews that stumble on this post will think we are crazy with how much Jesus we see in the OT, but once you see it... you can't unsee it.
The Messiah in the Hebrew Scriptures… What a crazy idea… NOT!
I would add Psalm 22 to that list. The Gospel of Mark is basically Psalm 22.
Excellent!