One day, in fact the very Day of His Resurrection, Jesus had a discussion with two (discouraged) believers who were walking away from Jerusalem toward Emmaus.
Of the many splendid things Jesus said to them, “speaking a word to the weary” (Isaiah 50:4), included was this marvelous fact: “Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”Luke 24:46-47
Watch the capitalized words now, same verses … “And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: AND THAT REPENTANCE AND REMISSION OF SINS SHOULD BE PREACHED IN HIS NAME AMONG ALL NATIONS, beginning at Jerusalem.”
When our Lord that victorious Day long ago used the specific words (the formula) “It is written”… He was indicating either a reference to or a direct quotation from some Old Testament Passage of Scripture.
Jesus (God’s Salvation) being preached to all nations! To the Gentiles! Literally, to the end of the earth! (What good news!)
But WHERE is Jesus’ Source (undoubtedly true) for this great Promise?
The Prophet Isaiah!
In today’s chapter, “number 49,” our Lord once again proves His familiarity with the Isaiah Corpus of the Bible.
Which verse?
Isaiah 49:6, I believe. “And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.”
Now let me supply the Antecedents for the Pronouns here. “And He (God the Father) said, It is a light thing that Thou (Jesus) shouldest be My Servant (this being one of Isaiah’s four great SERVANT Paragraphs) to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will ALSO give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.”
That’s the verse Jesus had in mind as He trekked toward Emmaus!
Wow!
Jesus and Isaiah, our Lord’s first recorded Sermon was even from Isaiah (Luke 4:16-21)! The scholars have found well over a dozen times Jesus quotes or alludes to this great Prophet! (An extremely worthy study within itself!)
But to the FACT itself!
Jesus preached to all nations! (Mark 16:15 … Jesus, post-Resurrection, talking: “Go ye into ALL THE WORLD, and preach the gospel to every creature.”)
And Jesus as Salvation to the end of the earth! (John 4:42 … “And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the WORLD.”)
I mean literally! (Philippians 2:9-11 … now Paul quoting Isaiah … “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that EVERY TONGUE should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”)
Jesus literally had saturated His Mind in Scripture!
So should we.
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
One more thought about Isaiah 49:6. It is saying that it was comparatively “easy/light” for Jesus to restore Israel … and that He was even going to save souls “to the end of the earth!” Apparently a much more arduous Task!
Filthy Gentiles, born again!
Wow!
And that mass included me!
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” Jesus preaching in John 5:24.
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