Scripture: Isaiah 53:7-11
- In what ways is Christ like a “lamb”? (53:7)
- What event is anticipated in verses 8 and 9?
- Why was it the “Lord’s will” for Christ to suffer in such a way (53:10)
- Look at verse 11. Explain the following phrases with your additional understanding from the New Testament fulfillment of prophecy:
“suffering of his soul”
“He will see the light of life and be satisfied”
“my righteous servant will justify many and he will bear their iniquities”
Meditation on Scripture
“… the Lamb… will be their shepherd…” (Revelation 7:17)
Paradoxically, the Prophet Isaiah compared The Redeemer – the Good Shepherd – to a lamb brought to slaughter. A lamb sacrificed for the transgression of the people was a common practice of the Jewish community. But here again, amidst the familiar images, Isaiah slips in the foreign puzzling cryptic comment: He refers to life after death – resurrection: “Though the Lord makes his life a guilt offering he will see his offspring and prolong his days. He will see the light of life…”
Could the Old Testament believers begin to decipher Isaiah’s message? And what about the New Testament followers of Christ? Could they associate the “Good Shepherd” with the “slaughtered lamb”?
For the earnest seeker, the conundrum was clarified by John’s paradoxical testimony upon seeing Christ: “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”
Indeed, the sweet cradle of Christ was rocked in the shadow of a Cross.
