That’s right.

Several years ago (in 2012) I placed here on the Website a much more detailed study of Isaiah 53, verse by verse in fact. If you’re interested … just visit our “Bible Study Pages Archive.” Then search for “Isaiah 53.”

Meanwhile today … I’d like to share with you a line from verse 9 of that great Prophecy. “And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death.”

Jesus, associated with “the wicked” … how so? The two “thieves” or “malefactors” between whom He was crucified!

Luke 23:33 … “And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the MALEFACTORS, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.”

And linked somehow to “the rich” … as well? Yes, the man who buried Him was indeed wealthy!

Matthew 27:57-58 … “When the even was come, there came a RICH MAN of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple. He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.”

Wow!

Details … being fulfilled in Jesus’ Death!

Details written 700 years prior to the Event!

“Truly this man was the Son of God.” Mark 15:39

In fact, He still is!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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I have always in my ministry sought to do and say things that bring the most glory to God! Even in answering nebulous Bible questions … I try to stick with the response that (at least to my way of seeing it) brings God the most honor!

And today’s Text is a prime example of what I mean.

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:5

Notice the inclusive terms here. ALL of us have erred. Because ALL of us are selfish. And the Lord Jesus (on the Cross) bore the weight of the sin(s) of us ALL!

What could be any more lucid, plain?

Yet I have some brethren who hold to the doctrine (or philosophy) that Jesus did NOT die for the sins/iniquity of us ALL!

And they have their “proof-verses” as well. They might counter with Matthew 26:28, for example: “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”

Wow, here it does NOT say ALL! Just “many!”

And herein is my point today.

Put thirty verses (if you can find them) that say Jesus died for “many” or just a “few” or even merely the “elect” (to use their “chosen” terminology) … beside my one verse that says Jesus died for ALL … AND I AM GOING WITH THE INTERPRETATION THAT GIVES GOD THE MOST HONOR AND GLORY AND PRAISE!

Which, in my mind and heart, would be the wider, bigger view of the Atonement!

That Jesus indeed died for ALL us sinners!

And herein I stand.

Glory to God!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Oh, let me close with one more verse. What do you think? “For God so loved the WORLD, that he gave his only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

Hallelujah, what a Saviour!

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I love the way Isaiah 53 begins!

With two direct questions.

“Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?” Isaiah 53:1, King James Version

The noun “report” translates “shemuah,” meaning “news, tidings, doctrine,” and even “rumor!”

Something heard! (Remember, “Faith cometh by hearing.” Romans 10:17)

Thus begins the chapter that (looks to me like) centers on the Messiah of Israel. The Saviour of the world! Our Lord Jesus Christ!

It is indeed a Report, a twelve verse Report!

Then the second half of our Verse today adds/asks … “To whom is the Arm of the Lord revealed?”

And again … the next 11 verses focus on Jesus!

My point this morning: in Isaiah’s mind, the ARM of the Lord is equated with JESUS, God’s only begotten Son!

JESUS IS THE ARM OF THE LORD!

And is not this true?

Every time God does something, He uses Jesus to get the Work accomplished!

From Creation … all the way to Calvary!

To the present High Priestly Ministry being conducted in Heaven (this very second) by our Advocate … again, Jesus! Praying for us!

The Arm of the Lord!

One more of hundreds (maybe even thousands) of reasons to love Him!

I am so thankful today that the Arm of the Lord has been revealed to us!

“Galah” is the verb, “discovered, uncovered, made to appear!”

Amen.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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I doubt I’ve ever seen a full commentary on Isaiah 53 (that great prophetic Chapter about our Lord’s Suffering on the Cross) that did not include Isaiah 52:13-15 in the discussion!

In fact, Isaiah 52:13-15 (today’s Bible Study Text) is the introduction to the whole of Isaiah 53. Its very “prelude.”

Thus, de facto (automatically) … these three verses are all about Jesus! At least from the Christian point of view. (By the way, “de facto” is pure Latin, literally translated as “of fact.” We’d often say today: “matter of fact.”)

Here they are, those verses: “Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men. So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.” With the Lord God, the Father, obviously speaking!

Jesus, God’s “SERVANT!”

The Gospel of Mark particularly introduces our Lord as this Servant! As in: “The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister (serve), and to give his life a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45

“Deal prudently” means “to be wise, to act wisely.” (Paul claimed for Jesus, in Colossians 2:3: “In Whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom.”)

And Jesus is to be “exalted and extolled.” (Paul again, after Jesus died on the Cross, post Resurrection and Ascension … “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.” Philippians 2:9-11)

But before this Exaltation, necessarily comes Jesus’ Humiliation! Calvary, the old rugged Tree! Isaiah 52 says more, shifting mid-Text from second person to third: “Many were astonied (amazed) at Thee; His visage (appearance) was so marred (disfigured) more than any man, and His form (shape) more than the sons of men.” Verse 14, so beaten and scarred during His Passion, during His arrest, trial(s) and beatings!

Yet, cryptically … “So He shall sprinkle many nations.” I believe this to be a “hint” of the Blood Jesus freely sheds on Calvary! (The scholars, some of them, believe the verb just means “to startle.” But, to me, that detracts from the Glory of the Cross! Jesus’ BLOOD washes away sin!)

And Jesus’ great Feat, Accomplishment, Victory on that Cross … impacts everyone! Even Royalty! “The kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.” The whole wide world … amazed at Jesus!

Revelation 1:7 just might fit here, Jesus’ Second Coming to earth: “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and EVERY EYE SHALL SEE HIM, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.”

Wow!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

What an Introduction!

Isaiah the author!

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What a chapter, Isaiah 52!

“Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the LORD hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem. The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.” And verses 9 and 10 here prove it!

Does God have “redemption” in Israel’s future?

And “comfort?”

Yes, according to the Apostle Paul, there is coming a day when … “And so all Israel shall be saved.” Romans 11:26, alluding to Isaiah 45:17, at least. (At the end of the Tribulation, beginning of the Millennium!)

And what is the result of such salvation/redemption/comfort?

Israel/Jerusalem … “breaking forth into joy!”

And … “singing together!”  

Then comes the “word picture” of the day. For this Friday, April 19, 2019. In other words, for our Bible Study thought.

“The Lord hath made bare His Holy Arm.”

Now that might not sound too impressive to you. What does it even mean? Clearly, it’s an anthropomorphism. (The attribution of a human characteristic or behavior to God.)

It’s a depiction of God … “rolling up His Sleeve” and really “going to work!”

As in … “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” Jeremiah 33:3

As in … “Unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think …” Ephesians 3:20

I had a beloved college teacher years ago (who later became our Pastor for a short while, not long before the Lord opened a little Church for me to serve) who was a man of prayer!

Oh, a “prayer warrior” indeed!

And I can hear him now, as we prayed together each day at school … “Lord, make bare Thy Mighty Arm” in this particular situation, I beg.

Wow!

I have used that plea time and time again since. “Lord, make bare Thy Mighty Arm.”

And I am delighted to report … He (our great God) has done so, repetitively!

Now, may I invite you to …

Add this “arrow” to your “quiver” of prayer pleas!

“Oh Lord, make bare Thy Mighty Arm.”

Then, watch what God will do!

Amen.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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