Meditations on Isaiah 53 (Part-3)
Let me first say this! The GOOD NEWS in Isaiah 53 is to be read together with John 12 and Romans 10 and see everything in the right perspective. In John 11, Lazarus is raised from the dead. In John 12, Jesus talks of his own death and resurrection. Similarly, in Romans 10 there are many quotes from Isaiah when Paul explains our salvation in Christ Jesus through the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus.
In Isaiah 53, we see Jesus as God’s Righteous Servant, the Messiah, the Sin-Bearer, Peace Maker, Barrier-breaker, Gift Giver – Righteousness, Light and Riches.
3. Gospel of divine healing: Bronze snake and the broken curse
Bitten by the virtual bug of the internet spider, anyone? Has this web drawn you into being the compulsive bearer of fear, falsehood and lies? Or has the real virus named covid-19 bugging you with fear?
Look up this incident in Numbers 21. People of Israel were bitten by venomous snakes and many died. The LORD said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived. {Num. 21: 8, 9)
Jesus mentioned this symbolism, when he met Nicodemus on that night. Jesus said to him: “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” [John 3:14, 15].
Bow, what is the connection between the bronze serpent of Moses and the cross of Jesus? The answer is found in Isaiah 53.
Isa. 53: 4, 5: Surely He has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes WE ARE HEALED.
Anyone who looks to the cross of Jesus, is made alive. Death’s sting is taken away! The Lord Jesus has taken the poison of asps – the curse of the law
, and having nailed it to the cross disarmed all the principalities and stripped them of their powers. In a miraculous way, as with the bronze snake, so also the stripes on the body of Jesus has purchased our healing. Look to Jesus!
Even for this dreaded covid-19 “pandemic” gripping the whole world with fear, know that there is a stripe in the body of Jesus, which will heal you. For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” (Rom. 10: 13)