The Fi5th Gospel
Penned some seven-hundred years before Christ walked this earth as a man, this Old Testament passage is interestingly called by many bible scholars “the Fifth Gospel”.
The fifty-third chapter of Isaiah is one of the most powerful chapters and certainly the most powerful messianic prophecy concerning the saving work of Messiah in the Hebrew Scriptures, the Old Testament! It clearly describes the life, death, and resurrection of the Suffering Servant.
Many books have been written about this astounding messianic prophecy. In this submission, as we prepare to walk through passion week – when we remember and rejoice in what the Lord Jesus has done for us, we briefly touch upon part of this wonderful prophecy.
In 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 the Apostle Paul elucidated the foundation of the gospel message: “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.” The “Scriptures” Paul was referring to here are the Hebrew Scriptures, the Old Testament. At the time Paul penned 1 Corinthians, the New Testament had not yet been compiled into one volume.
Note Messiah’s substitutionary atonement and resurrection found in Isaiah 53.
Messiah’s Sacrifice – In Isaiah 53:4-6 we note the sacrifice of the Suffering Servant:
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, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:4-6).
Years ago, while ministering to an orthodox Jewish man in Brooklyn, I played a little game with him. I told him to close his eyes and I would read him a passage from the Bible. I told him to then tell if it was the Old or New Testament. After hearing Isaiah 53, including these powerful verses, he blurted out that it was about Jesus and it was from the New Testament. Upon showing him otherwise, he began to panic, as he was flabbergasted these words were part of the Jewish Bible!
Christ (Messiah) died for our sins according to the Scriptures!
Messiah’s Resurrection – In Isaiah 53:9-11 we find a powerful allusion to His resurrection:
And they made His grave with the wicked—But with the rich at His death, because He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities (Isaiah 53:9-11).
How is it possible that the Suffering Servant who is dead and His grave made with the wicked in verse 9 (past tense), then in verses 10 and 11 (future tenses) “He shall see His seed” and “He shall see the labor of His soul?” This is a powerful allusion to His resurrection. The tomb is empty. Messiah is alive!
As we prepare our heart to meditate upon, remember and rejoice in the saving work of our Lord Jesus in this season, may we also reflect upon this marvelous prophecy, the “Fifth Gospel.” Hallelujah!