(remember, these are unedited/draft show notes, not a transcript — listening is always better…and if you listen AND follow along below, you’ll see how)
Focus Question:
Which OT passage is quoted most by NT writers?
Intro:
You and I spend six days a week reading the Bible together, and I wish it were even more, largely because of days like today when both Old and New Testament passages are something I want to highlight. So for the second time in a week, I’m just going to call an audible and dial in the focus of the camera lens on one thing — our OT passage.
Before we get there, one bit of housekeeping: I launched a new thing yesterday for those who want to learn the right words for having conversations in today’s culture. So I created the first of many bite-sized lessons that only take a few minutes to study, but give you the words that are already working. Go to forthehope.org/coreteam.
Our focus question today is “Which OT passage is quote most by NT writers?” But it’s a lame question, because you’d rightly guess that it’s what we’ll read in Isaiah today. Importantly, though, it’s because NT writers affirm that this passage is talking about Jesus..and you’re going to hear a slew of familiar references.
New Testament segment:
Passage: none today
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses:
Words:
Old Testament segment:
Passage: Isaiah 50:4-53:12
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses: 40
Words: ~1391
Summarize the prophecy of Isaiah concerning the Servant found in Isaiah 52:13 - 53:12. Then, describe how Jesus Christ fulfilled this prophecy through His work and ministry.
The prophetic poem of Isaiah 52:13-53:12 tells of a Servant – the Messiah – who will bring salvation to the whole world. Structured loosely as a dialogue between Yahweh and Israel, the narrative describes God’s description of the Servant’s work, Israel’s response to the Servant, and the outcome of the Servant’s work. This Servant we know to be Jesus both from internal and external evidences.
God speaks: my Servant will succeed by cleansing all nations with his blood
As Yahweh speaks in verses 52:13-15 He notes that His Servant will succeed (“act wisely”) in His appointed task, being “high,” “lifted up,” and “exalted” (v13). As Waltke points out, the conjunction between these three states is sequential, the latter following the former. This success of moral cleansing (“sprinkle,” v15), will come to the whole earth (“kings,” v15) by way of inhuman suffering (v14).
Israel’s response: we did not believe in the Servant in his life or in his death
Verses 53:1-9 begin with a rhetorical question: Who has believed our report? No one. Even as the writer acknowledges the Servant as Yahweh’s emissary (53:1), we turned away (v3), despising Him as stricken (v4), continuing in sin (v5-6), and ultimately trying the Servant in a kangaroo court (v8).
God’s promise: the sacrificial offering will nonetheless come to pass
Despite Israel’s rejection of the Servant, He lays down his very soul (v10) as a guilt offering for “the many” (v12), satisfying the requirement of the Law (cf., Lev. 5:15-16). Having completed the task, the Servant then receives the promised reward (v12, cf., 52:13).
Jesus fits all predications of the prophecy
Isaiah 52:13-53:12 illuminates many of the characteristics of this future Servant, and these are an important subset of the many internal evidences that point to Jesus. These include his crucified and resurrected (v10), beaten to an unrecognizable state (v14), spilling his blood as the Lamb (v15, 53:7), not believed (53:1), not looking as expected for a king (v2), ‘cursed’ by God (v4), not answering his accusers (v7), buried in a rich man’s grave (v9), falsely accused (v9a), sinless (v9b), and forsaken by the Father (v10).
New Testament writers repeatedly affirm Jesus at the Suffering Servant
External evidence abounds, as OT scholar Bruce Waltke notes, in the fact that this passage is quoted more frequently in the New Testament than any other. A few of them include Jesus being numbered with transgressors (Lk 22:37), being “the Lamb” (Jn 1:29; Acts 8:32), disbelieved (Jn 12:38; Ro 10:16), and sinless (1 Pet 53:9).
As the fourth of four “Servant Songs” in the “Book of the Servant” section of Isaiah, the passage of 52:13-53:12 stands out as the climax in Yahweh’s power in action (his “arm,” 53:1). The result is God’s ultimate victory – triumph over death itself – found in full fruition in the person and work of Jesus of Nazareth.
Wisdom segment:
Passage: none today
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses:
Words: ~
The bottom line:
Love you!
Roger
ForTheHope is a daily audio Bible + apologetics podcast and blog. We’ve got a passion for just keepin’ it real, having conversations like normal people, and living out the love of Jesus better every single day.
Roger Courville, CSP is a globally-recognized expert in digitally-extended communication and connection, an award-winning speaker, award-winning author, and a passionately bad guitarist. Follow him on Twitter -- @RogerCourville and @JoinForTheHope – or his blog: www.forthehope.org.
Sources and resources:
(1) Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 1237.