Monday, April 9, 2007
Isaiah 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand.
THE FACTS OF THE RESURRECTION -- OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY FULFILLED
The fifty-third chapter of Isaiah is well known for its vivid and clear description of the suffering and death of the Messiah. Seldom is that section of Scripture thought of in connection with the resurrection of Jesus, but the resurrection of Jesus is clearly promised by Isaiah in those verses. Speaking of Jesus, the Suffering Servant, the LORD promises through Isaiah: "He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days!"
God had promised hundreds of years earlier that Jesus would not only die on the cross "numbered with the transgressors" and give His soul as "an offering for sin" through death, but that Jesus would also live again to see the result of His work!
Tied to the Old Testament promise of the Messiah who would die as a sacrifice for our sins, was the promise that He would not remain in the grave. He would rise again and live forevermore! Jesus fulfilled all of the other Old Testament prophecies concerning His work as our Redeemer, and He fulfilled this promise as well. Old Testament prophecy concerning the resurrection of Jesus confirms our confidence in the fact of the resurrection -- both His and ours!
With joy our voices now we raise
To sing our risen Savior's praise Alleluia!
"He lives!" as Scripture surely saith,
The Victor over sin and death. Alleluia!
Our Lord has broken death's cold tomb,
And sealed the prince of this world's doom. Alleluia!
Now death can hold us nevermore.
Then let your song still higher soar. Alleluia!
(Edward May)
