Jesus' First Coming Part 1, Jesus' Purpose, Isaiah 53

 Let’s go from talking about going to coming. just as we who know Him as Saviour are rewarded for loving His appearing, Jews eagerly awaited Jesus’ first coming, They just werne’t sure what to make of it, because their focus was wrong.

Read Isaiah 53. It confused them 700 years before Jesus came. We know Jesus was born in Bethlehem as a baby. (They did have Micah 5:2 for the city.) But they didn’t understand it. The first verses certainly show Jesus would not be a king in a fancy palace at His first coming; though He will be a conquering king at His Second Coming, to rule the world. They thought He had to restore the political kingdom first, though. 

Their minds were on this world, not Heavenly things. 2 Tim. 4:8 says we who know Him as Saviour will be rewarded for loving the Lord’s appearing. Part of that is we won’t be startled by having Him snatch us away from worldly goals. You can know Jesus as your Saviour and not be fully devoted to Him. My nephew Marshall’s wife Chelsea is like that. If the Lord returned now, she’d go to Heaven. But she wouldn’t have the rewards. It causes problems on Earth, too. Marshall plans to go in February on a 6-week mission trip with his mom, my sister Debbie. My sister heads a ministry building a Christian school in Tamigali, a village in Sierra Leone. Chelsea is bothered by his going mostly since she doesn’t get the joy of serving God and leading others to Him. Please pray for them and that she and her family learn that joy, that her heart will be tender to needs of souls around the world and right there in Dallas. 

​ When the Old Testament speaks of Jesus’ First Coming, the majority of prophecies about His first coming were fulfilled in the final week of Jesus’ life on Earth. But, His birth and earfhly life are covered, too. Matthew, especially, refers to these prophecies.

Back to Isaiah 53, Jesus was bruised for our iniquity, and wounded for our sin (v. 5). The Lord laid on Him the chastisement of us all (v. 6). Jesus took the wrath of God – which we deserved for our sin - on Himself as he hung there on the cross. He bore our sins in His body. (1 Pet. 2:24) Different Gospel writers focused on different things that the Spirit wanted us to know. They all point to this: Jesus went through agony for you and I and everyone. A person just has to call on Him to save them, to receive what he did for them by faith.

Salvation is free and for anyone to take. That also confused them. They didn't understand we Gentiles would also receive the gift of salvation.  The Bible had said they would be a light to the Gentiles, but they didn't understand how.

These examples show how God gave signs, but they weren't clear till near the event. Yet, not focusing on their own desires might have helped. If the road sign says you’re 100 miles from where you want to go, it doesn't say if you’ll have to turn, how many exits there are, etc.. You need a map - and even a GPS doesn't tell you everything. But you can travel more clearly if you aren’t busy playing a game or something. In the same way, we see more clearly what He wants us to do today when we aren’t focused on our own desires.

Read Isaiah 53 and think about what Jesus went through, what His ultimate goal was for coming to Earth. “To as many as received Him, gave He power to become the sons of God, even them that believe on His name.” (John 1:12) And, consider how that one who is such a friend – God Himself – chose such humble beginnings.  And, some did go. Shepherds and Wise Men each went to celebrate His birth and worship Him.

Pray for God to be victorious in spiritual battles in our church and country, and for many to be drawn to Him and trust Him as Saviour even during this tough second wave of virus. And, let your light shine in the darkness of this world.