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The Forbidden Chapter Pt 3

by | Tue, Jun 14 2022

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We’re investigating the details of the Mashiach, the Messiah, so that we can look at all the criteria, then examine those who’ve claimed to be the messiah to see if their claims match up with the prophesied criteria. For the last couple of programs we’ve been talking specifically about Isaiah 52, the last 3 verses and Isaiah 53. Isaiah 53 being a forbidden chapter for many centuries in synagogues because of the controversy and arguments that were constantly erupting because it seems to describe what happened to Jesus. The easiest way to do away with the controversy in the eyes of many rabbis was to simply remove it from the study schedule. Out of sight, out of mind. The problem is that Isaiah 53 hasn’t gone away, the Scripture remains and must be addressed. Let’s dig into Isaiah 53. I also want to point out that I’m using an excellent article from One For Israel, and the study of Dr Eitan Bar who wrote the article on the forbidden chapter.

Isaiah 53:1-2,

‘Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed. For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty that we should look upon Him, nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him.”

The very first question of Isaiah is to ask who will believe the message, some translations say, “Who has believed our report? Right before Isaiah gives a description of Mashiach and what He will go through and achieve, the prophet points out that Israel will be unbelieving and without faith when Mashiach comes.

Dr Eitan Bar surprised me when he explained that the reference to the ‘arm of the Lord’ being revealed is actually a reference to Mashiach specifically. He uses two other passages in Isaiah for his argument.

Isaiah 40 says that the ‘arm of the Lord’ would rule for Him, that is for God. Isaiah 51 says that the Gentiles would put their hope in the ‘arm of the Lord,’ and that the ‘arm of the Lord’ would redeem.

Isaiah 40:10,

‘Behold, the Lord God will come with might, with His arm ruling for Him. Behold, His reward is with Him and His recompense before Him.’

Isaiah 51:5,

‘My righteousness is near, My salvation has gone forth, and My arms will judge the peoples; the coastlands will wait for Me, and for My arm they will wait expectantly.’

Mashiach IS the ‘Arm of the Lord’! That’s a very interesting thought, I’d not heard of that before, I’ll leave it with you for you to investigate some more.

The passage said that “For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of parched ground.” When Jesus was born, He came at a time in Israel’s history that was like a spiritual desert. The time between Malachi and the time of His arrival was known as the silent years. There had been 400 years without God speaking to or revealing Himself to the nation. It was a dry spiritual desert in Israel, the priests were thoroughly corrupt and the religious leaders were more intent of maintaining and observing their traditions, and debating with one other about who was more righteous, presenting themselves in vain glory before the masses to prove their piety. When Jesus arrived, He was truly like streams in the desert, bringing Living Water to the desperately thirsty. It’s little wonder the people marveled at His teaching and approachable manner.

“He has no stately form or majesty that we should look upon Him, nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him.”

Almost every single depiction of Jesus in art, going back through the centuries up to our present day, present Jesus as gorgeously handsome. However, according to Scripture, He was a very ordinary looking man, someone you’d pass in the street and not look twice at. Does that shock you? Apparently God made sure that His Son wouldn’t turn heads, make women swoon or men jealous…that wasn’t part of the mission. Let’s be perfectly clear, Jesus wasn’t handsome like a Hollywood heartthrob, physically He wasn’t that attractive. What drew people to Him was His ministry, His teaching and His miracles…but nationally, He wasn’t desired by His own people, and physically, He wasn’t desirable or eye-catching.

Isaiah 53:3,

‘He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we didn’t esteem Him.’

One of the things you notice when reading the Gospels is that the general populace were drawn to Jesus because He was so utterly different to the religious leaders they were surrounded with and governed by. The other stark visual you have is that the religious establishment as a whole, with merely a handful of exceptions, hated Him from the very start. They utterly despised Him. They were jealous of Him. They resented Him. He was everything they were not and they couldn’t stand it.

He didn’t have their social or family pedigree that they themselves had. He didn’t have wealth or prestige. As far as they were concerned, He didn’t have the right parentage, learning or social and religious connections. He was an upstart who countered every single false teaching they forced on the people, He exposed their hypocrisy, undermined their piety and did miracles that left them breathless. They were in constant denial over what was happening right before their very eyes.

Their jealousy and resentment led them to try and entrap Him with their clever, contrived questions and they failed every time until they finally gave up. They then embarked on a conspiracy with one of His disciples, breaking the very Laws of God they purported to be experts on and uphold…they conspired to murder Him, and they did it all in the name of their religion.

Next time we’ll pick up again in verse 5.

Shalom
Mandy