ISAIAH
The glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken. (Isaiah 40:5)
There are now about four months left until Christmas. How would you feel if someone gave away a secret and told you now what gift you will get in December?
Someone gave away the secret of the very first Christmas gift. Over 700 years before Jesus Christ was born, the prophet Isaiah (among others) told God’s people that Jesus was coming. Most of what we know about Jesus comes from those first four books of the New Testament which we call the gospels—the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. But the Old Testament book of Isaiah foretold the work of Christ so clearly that some have called Isaiah the gospel writer of the Old Testament.
The word gospel means good news. And there’s so much good news for us in the message God spoke through Isaiah! Take a look at some of the surprises that God gave away through Isaiah’s pen:
Isaiah 7:14 tells us, “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” This prophecy was fulfilled on Christmas when the virgin Mary bore her son Jesus in Bethlehem. Jesus was called “Immanuel”—a name that tells us who he is—God with us. It was God himself who came into the world as a human being that first Christmas.
Isaiah gives away another secret in chapter 9: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given…And he will be called…Prince of Peace.” This God in human flesh came into this world to make peace—peace between us and our holy God against whom we have sinned and whose punishment we have earned.
How did Jesus make this peace? Again Isaiah gives away the secret. In Isaiah 53:5 the prophet looks ahead in time to the day when Jesus Christ would be nailed to a cross and he said, “He [Jesus] was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.”
You have peace with God through Jesus Christ, who lived a perfect life, died for your sins and rose from death. Through Christ you are God’s child and heaven is yours as a free gift! That’s the gospel. That’s good news!
Old Testament
Who is Moses and the prophets? More topics and answers found here.
New Testament
Who is Jesus and why should I care? Here, you will find answers!
About the Bible
What is the Bible? Find an answer to this question and more.
WHO IS JESUS?
Many people have many different ideas. Just a good man who lived and died? A charismatic man whose followers stretched the truth? A holy man with some connection to the divine? A prophet like Mohammed? Who is Jesus?
WORSHIP
Ever have a question about worship practices but didn’t know whom to ask? Well here’s the place for you! Learn the meaning of the Scripture readings in church,. Learn how to pray. And understand religious terms used in the church setting.