Jesus Christ Is More Than A Conqueror

n Isaiah 63:1-19, the Messiah’s appearing is described as an avenger. He is the answer to His people’s prayers. He approaches Jerusalem after the destruction of “Edom.” Edom is a metaphor for the last and most bitter foes of God and His people. Messiah’s apparel is red because He has slain the enemies of God. This imagery refers to Jesus in Revelation 19:13, “And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His Name is called The Word of God.” This Word of fury against the enemies of God is repeated in Revelation 14:19 where He places His enemies into the great wine-press of the wrath of God.

The Israelites were looking for such a conqueror when Messiah appeared the first time, but before slaying their human enemies, He needed to atone for their spiritual sins lest no one survive. Without the shedding of His blood on the cross, we would all be God’s enemies. For we all have sinned and fallen short of His glory. Hebrews 9:28 says, “Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.”

So, the Isaiah 63 prophecy of vengeance against Christ’s enemies more appropriately applies to His second coming.

But let us consider how glorious Christ’s first coming was! The Jerusalemites wanted the Romans eradicated from their city, but Jesus eradicated a much greater foe when He died on the cross to atone for our sins. Take away sin and death, and the devil has no more claim against us. We have been Redeemed by the blood. Rome could punish them while on earth but not in the next life. Jesus made a way for us to have victory over every foe forevermore. In Christ that we are more than conquerors. Praise the Lord!

“Who is this who comes from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah, this One who is glorious in His apparel, traveling in the greatness of His strength?—'I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.’ ‘Why is Your apparel red, and Your garments like one who treads in the winepress?’ ‘I have trodden the winepress alone, and from the peoples no one was with Me. For I have trodden them in My anger and trampled them in My fury; their blood is sprinkled upon My garments, and I have stained all My robes. For the day of vengeance is in My heart, and the year of My redeemed has come. I looked, but there was no one to help, and I wondered that there was no one to uphold; therefore, My own arm brought salvation for Me; and My own fury, it sustained Me. I have trodden down the peoples in My anger, made them drunk in My fury, and brought down their strength to the earth.” Isaiah 63:1-6

“I looked, but there was no one to help” because only Jesus was without sin. Only He could atone for our sin and rightfully execute judgment on our accuser.

I “made them drunk in My fury” is a phrase that speaks of divine judgment. In Jeremiah 25:16, 51:7, Isaiah 28:7, Revelation 17:4, 18:6, the Lord speaks of a cup that defiles the nations. Romans 1:22, 24 says, “Because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” “Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves.”

“I will mention the loving kindnesses of the Lord and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord has bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which He has bestowed on them according to His mercies, according to the multitude of His loving kindnesses. For He said, ‘Surely they are My people, children who will not lie.’ So, He became their Savior. In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the Angel of His Presence saved them; in His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He bore them and carried them all the days of old.” Isaiah 63:7-9

Yes, let us make mention of the loving kindnesses of the Lord and praise Him. He has become our Savior and remained our Savior.

“In all their affliction He was afflicted...” Hebrews 4:15 says, “We do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” His presence... Emmanuel... God with us... saves, loves, redeems and carries us past the finish line into eternity with God.

“But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit; so, He turned Himself against them as an enemy, and He fought against them. Then He remembered the days of old, Moses and his people, saying: ‘Where is He who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of His flock? Where is He who put His Holy Spirit within them, who led them by the right hand of Moses, with His glorious arm, dividing the water before them to make for Himself an everlasting Name, who led them through the deep, as a horse in the wilderness, that they might not stumble?’” Isaiah 63:10-13

In what ways do we rebel and grieve the Spirit of Christ? When we willingly sin! When we don’t forgive others as Christ has forgiven us! When we don’t read our Bibles or pray! When we don’t speak of Him to anyone! When we forsake the gathering together with other Christians to worship Him, to sing His praises and to be reminded of His goodness towards us!

In the passage above the Lord remembers all His acts of old to save them and He relents of being at odds with them. We need to be reminded of what the Lord has done for us. Assembling together to remember what the Lord has done for us helps us to love and appreciate Him... which is what He longs for from us.

“...You lead Your people, to make Yourself a glorious Name.” Isaiah 63:14

Praise be to God when anyone among us glorifies the Lord. The one who glorifies the Lord is serving Him well.

“Doubtless You are our Father, though Abraham was ignorant of us, and Israel does not acknowledge us. You, O Lord, are our Father; our Redeemer from Everlasting is Your Name.” Isaiah 63:16

Sometimes it happens that those who say that they are of Abraham or of Christ, do not acknowledge those who actually do have a personal relationship with the Heavenly Father. They want everyone to limit their enthusiasm for the Lord to a very cerebral and legalistic view of God, but where is the love in this? God is love! He wants to be loved. He wants a heart to heart friendship with us like He enjoyed with Abraham. In Isaiah 41:8 and James 2:23, God called Abraham His friend.

Jesus taught us to pray to God as “our Father in heaven.” He is our everlasting Father.

“For since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen any God besides You, who acts for the one who waits for Him. You meet him who rejoices and does righteousness, who remembers You in Your ways.” Isaiah 64:4-5

If we just wait on the Lord, He will do much better for us than we ever could do on our own. The prophet urges us to rejoice in Him. God will meet us. He inhabits the praises of His people. He urges us to remember God’s ways and do what is right. The Lord blesses beyond measure.

“Now, O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our potter; and all we are the work of Your hand.” Isaiah 64:8

In Jeremiah chapters 18 and 19, God instructs Jeremiah to go to the potter’s house to observe the potter working with clay. This story is a metaphor for God’s relationship with the people, whom He likens to clay and Himself to the potter. The potter doesn’t throw “marred,” or flawed clay away but reshapes it into a new vessel. This parable illustrates God’s power to destroy and reshape nations, and to remake individuals who have strayed, provided they are willing to be the ”work of His hands.”

Are we soft clay in the hands of God, or are we hard against Him? In lieu of all the Lord has said to us in His Word, let us rejoice in Him, and make mention of His wonderful Name!

Jesus Christ is more than a conqueror. He is the Word of God! Our Savior and Redeemer! Our atoning sacrifice! Our High Priest who sympathizes with us!

“Come, Lord Jesus, come!”