By: Jonathan Carl
Too weird of a title? Too predictable of a topic? Too early to talk about Easter?
Jesus’ death and resurrection are the most amazing events in human history. It is easy for us to remember the facts of Easter but, in our familiarity, lose the awe we should have of His majestic love.
How amazing is it that God promised the sending of His Son through Isaiah over 700 years ahead of time. Here are a few biblical truths about Easter from Isaiah 53:2–6:
Isaiah 53:2 “For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.” (ESV)
We live in a world focused on external appearances. As he grew up, Jesus was not outwardly impressive to the culture around him. As Jesus “humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death” His Father “highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name.” May we long for the day that our Lord Jesus returns and when “every knee should bow” and “every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord” (Philippians 2:8–11) .
Isaiah 53:3 “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” (ESV)
Our world rejected Jesus. Dishonored Jesus. Hated Jesus. So did we. In our sinfulness we prioritized ourselves over the Creator of the Universe. May we never cease to marvel at the fact that “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
Isaiah 53:4 “Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.” (ESV)
Jesus came to carry away the sin of the world, but the crowds chanted “crucify him!” While he bore the weight of the cross towards Calvary, the crowds mocked His suffering. May we honestly admit that in a similar way, in our lostness, the cross was “foolishness” to us too (1 Corinthians 1:18).
Isaiah 53:5 “But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. (ESV)
Jesus took the beating and died the death that we deserve. He sacrificed His life so that we may have eternal peace with our Heavenly Father. His wounds forever healed us from the sepsis of sin.
Isaiah 53:6 “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (ESV)
May the prophecy of Isaiah open our eyes to the seriousness of our straying from God. We all loved ourselves and the creation more than our Creator. We all trusted ourselves more than the King of Kings. Easter is the most magnificent gift we could ever receive. Thank you Father for sending your Son!
“He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all” (Romans 8:32)
p.s. If you enjoyed these, I think you would really love John Piper’s Fifty Reasons Jesus Came to Die (free here: www.desiringgod.org/books/fifty-reasons-why-jesus-came-to-die )