THE FORBIDDEN CHAPTER (1)
by Jeff Strite
Scripture: Isaiah 52:13-15, Isaiah 53:1-12
This content is part of a series.
Title: The Forbidden Chapter (1)
Series: The Forbidden
Author: Jeff Strite
Text: Isaiah 52:13-53:12
Many people refer to Isaiah 53 as being the "forbidden chapter" of the Bible! For centuries, Jewish synagogues would include this chapter in their yearly readings. But not anymore. Today when Jewish people read Isaiah 52 in the Synagogue, they stop before they get to end of the chapter (at verse 12) and the next week they just jump straight into Isaiah 54. It's not that Jewish people CAN'T read Isaiah 53 for themselves - it's just that it's not "officially" part of their book anymore. That section of Isaiah just doesn't exist for them.
ILLUS: One man said he found a Hebrew Study Bible at his local bookstore, and (out of curiosity) turned to Isaiah 53 and he saw this footnote: "This is a very difficult passage." And he thought to himself: "Why is this a difficult passage? Is it difficult because they DON'T understand what it says? Or is it difficult because they DO understand what it says?" (Marc Axelrod)
Well, what does it say? Isaiah 53 says that God was going to send His servant... and that servant would be exalted. But His physical appearance would be marred - He had no majesty or beauty that we should desire him. He was going to be despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows. He'd carry our griefs and sorrows, and He'd be pierced for our transgressions; crushed for our iniquities. His sufferings would bring us peace, and his wounds would heal us. He would be oppressed, and afflicted... and yet he would not open His mouth. Like a lamb being led to slaughter, and like a sheep before its shearers is silent, He wouldn't open his mouth. By oppression and judgment He would be taken away; He would be cut off from the land of the living (HE WOULD DIE). He'd be stricken FOR the transgression of God's people. And they would make his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death.
Now, that kinda sounds like Jesus, doesn't it? And that's part o ...
Series: The Forbidden
Author: Jeff Strite
Text: Isaiah 52:13-53:12
Many people refer to Isaiah 53 as being the "forbidden chapter" of the Bible! For centuries, Jewish synagogues would include this chapter in their yearly readings. But not anymore. Today when Jewish people read Isaiah 52 in the Synagogue, they stop before they get to end of the chapter (at verse 12) and the next week they just jump straight into Isaiah 54. It's not that Jewish people CAN'T read Isaiah 53 for themselves - it's just that it's not "officially" part of their book anymore. That section of Isaiah just doesn't exist for them.
ILLUS: One man said he found a Hebrew Study Bible at his local bookstore, and (out of curiosity) turned to Isaiah 53 and he saw this footnote: "This is a very difficult passage." And he thought to himself: "Why is this a difficult passage? Is it difficult because they DON'T understand what it says? Or is it difficult because they DO understand what it says?" (Marc Axelrod)
Well, what does it say? Isaiah 53 says that God was going to send His servant... and that servant would be exalted. But His physical appearance would be marred - He had no majesty or beauty that we should desire him. He was going to be despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows. He'd carry our griefs and sorrows, and He'd be pierced for our transgressions; crushed for our iniquities. His sufferings would bring us peace, and his wounds would heal us. He would be oppressed, and afflicted... and yet he would not open His mouth. Like a lamb being led to slaughter, and like a sheep before its shearers is silent, He wouldn't open his mouth. By oppression and judgment He would be taken away; He would be cut off from the land of the living (HE WOULD DIE). He'd be stricken FOR the transgression of God's people. And they would make his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death.
Now, that kinda sounds like Jesus, doesn't it? And that's part o ...
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