Jesus Our Glorious Messiah

“Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been upheld by Me from birth, who have been carried from the womb: even to your old age, I am He, and even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry and will deliver you.” Isaiah 46:3-4

The Lord chose Israel to be His special treasure. He chose Israel’s branch of the human race to be the race through whom Messiah would be born. It is Messiah abiding in them and being revealed through them that makes them a light to the nations. It is because Messiah is the seed in them that brings salvation to the world that He watches over them and preserves them. Messiah’s presence in them is affirmed by the Word of God that was written by their writers. The Word and Messiah are inseparable.

Glory to God that Messiah in us Gentiles also preserves, prospers and makes us to shine in the world!

“Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure,’ ...Indeed, I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it.” Isaiah 46:9-11

The prophecies spoken long ago and fulfilled affirm the trustworthiness of God’s Word.

The authority and reliability of people’s words often fail with time because we do not know the end from the beginning. Someone will make a belief statement that appeals to people, and it becomes popular, and it reigns like a king. Scientific data is rolled out to coronate it. Then, a new belief statement comes out that people like better, and it dethrones the previous one.

Acts 10:43 says, “All the prophets testify about Him [Jesus Christ] that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His Name.” Luke 24:27 says, “Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself.” The whole Bible points people to believe in Jesus for salvation. The Holy Spirit helps people to see and know this truth.

“Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you by the way you should go. O, that you had heeded My commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea. Your descendants also would have been like the sand, and the offspring of your body like the grains of sand; his name would not have been cut off nor destroyed from before Me.” Isaiah 46:17-19

The One who created us is reliable and helpful. His commandments are guard rails to protect us from scammers. The Lord gives peace. He gives what is right. He gives abundant life.

“They did not thirst when He led them through the deserts; He caused the waters to flow from the rock for them; He also split the rock, and the waters gushed out.” Isaiah 48:21

The Lord provides for us as we trust in Him. When we were missionaries in China, and even now, we see the Lord providing for us in places that should not produce! Like from deserts and from rocks! The Lord gets the glory because otherwise, we could not do what we do.

“The Lord has called Me from the womb; from the matrix of My mother, He has made mention of My Name. And He has made My mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of His hand, He has hidden Me and made Me a polished shaft; in His quiver He has hidden Me. And now the Lord says, who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, to bring Jacob back to Him, so that Israel is gathered to Him (For I shall be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and My God shall be My strength), Indeed, He says, ‘It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, that You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth. Thus says the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, their Holy One, to Him whom man despises, to Him whom the nation abhors, to the Servant of rulers: Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the Lord who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel; and He has chosen You. Thus says the Lord, “In an acceptable time, I have heard You, and in the day of salvation I have helped You; I will preserve You and give You as a covenant to the people, to restore the earth, to cause them to inherit the desolate heritages; that You may say to the prisoners, ‘Go forth,’ To those who are in darkness, ‘Show yourselves.’ They shall feed along the roads, and their pastures shall be on all desolate heights. They shall neither hunger nor thirst, neither heat nor sun shall strike them; for He who has mercy on them will lead them, even by the springs of water He will guide them.” Isaiah 49:1-2, 5-10

The passage above speaks of Messiah. He was formed by the Holy Spirit in the virgin Mary’s womb to make God’s Name known among us. He is the sword – the Word of God. He is the arrow from God’s quiver that hits the bullseye in revealing God to us. He has raised up from the tribes of Israel prophets and apostles to write His Word for us. He is the light of Israel. His light shines on us Gentiles. Jesus is the new covenant. He sets us free by declaring us “not guilty” and giving us His Holy Spirit to live a new life.

“Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands...” Isaiah 49:15-16

This passage speaks of the nail scarred hands of our Savior. This passage speaks of His uplifted hands interceding for us on high. This passage speaks of His guiding hands. His Spirit leads us.

“He is near who justifies Me; who will contend with Me? Let us stand together. Who is My adversary? Let him come near Me. Surely the Lord God will help Me; who is he who will condemn Me? Indeed, they will all grow old like a garment; the moth will eat them up. Who among you fears the Lord? Who obeys the voice of His Servant? Who walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the Name of the Lord and rely upon his God.” Isaiah 50:8-10

With Jesus Christ at our side, we need not fear what adversaries might do against us. We may experience setbacks when the enemy attacks, but Jesus transforms the enemy’s setbacks into setups to advance His mission in and through us. As we patiently and confidently continue trusting in Jesus, miracles happen. All things are possible with Him! Praise the Lord!