Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

Mashiach ben Yossef (Messiah the descendant of Joseph) will prepare the world for the coming of the final redeemer (Mashiach ben David – Messiah the descendant of David). He shall wage war against the forces of evil. Mashiach ben Yossef will be killed. His death will be followed by a period of great calamities. He will also be resurrected. There’s a lot more to this, but it is a description of Jesus in His role at His FIRST incarnation. When He came to minister to us, to declare the Kingdom of God is near, to be a sacrifice for us, dying for sin and defeating the devil, death, and hell (Sheol). Jesus did this as the Suffering Servant. He was resurrected and when He returns it will be in His FINAL incarnation, Messiah who will establish a physical kingdom and usher in the final battle and the final judgment of those who reject Him as Saviour and Lord (Messiah). He IS, He WAS, and He WILL BE. Jesus IS the Anointed One. The Suffering Servant. Our sacrificial Lamb.

Listen to God, said the Lord. Listen to Me, He said. Look to the Rock (Jesus). Look to the paths your forefathers tread. If you stick to following the Lord (Jesus) and trusting in Him, the wilderness would become like Eden and the waste places a place of comfort direct from Him. He has sent out His salvation and it is close. Keep your eyes off the world and yourself. Keep your eyes on the Lord. Look to Him, or you’ll miss it. Wake up and use the Lord’s strength, which is offered to you.

There is an opportunity fast approaching, to end the exile. To stop drinking of the wrath of God on sin. He is pleading for the people to keep their eyes on Him. To keep looking to Him. To turn back and rely on Him. If they would, they would receive comfort. They would receive peace. But if they did not, they would lie down in the streets and make themselves a pavement for their enemies. On the one hand, He will redeem and restore them, putting them in a place where they would fear no man. On the other hand, they would be afflicted and subjugated. It seems like a simple choice.

God is asking the people to wake up from their slumber and realise what is really happening around them. To see the situation from God’s point of view. The people had turned away. Their enemies had mocked the Lord. But He urged His children to wake from their slumber. To realise that the time was coming. That His people would know His name. That the nations would know it was HE who had done this thing, this restoration. The feet of those who would see this and spread the word would be Blessed. The Good News being proclaimed from the mountains would be beautiful and a glory to God. He exhorted His children to raise the cry. From the watchmen on the walls throughout the cities. The Lord has bared His arm and brought forth His salvation.

“Look, my servant shall achieve success; he shall be exalted, and he shall be lifted up, and he shall be very high. Just as many were appalled at you—such was his appearance beyond human disfigurement, and his form beyond the sons of mankind—” (Isaiah 52:13-14)

The Suffering Servant (Jesus) would be lifted up to draw all sin toward Himself. He would be disfigured beyond recognition as human. The Son of Man would NOT look like the sons of men on this Earth. Yet there He would be. Suffering for you and suffering for me. It would be (and is right here) be prophesied, but no one would believe it. He wouldn’t LOOK like a king. He wouldn’t LOOK special. He wouldn’t stand out. He would be ordinary. Not desired by ANYONE because of His appearance. Not ugly, but average. Bland. Ordinary. It would make it easier to despise His claims. To reject Him as a teacher, a leader, a shepherd, or a king.

No matter how much some liked Him, others would hate Him. He would know rejection. He would know how it feels to be ignored. He would know how it feels to have his words twisted. And when He took the punishment that was earned by us, we would assume that God was punishing Him. That it meant He was a liar, a fraud, a false prophet. But He was wounded. Beard torn out. Slapped. Punched. Hit with a stick. Stabbed with thorns. Whipped, skin being ripped off. Rough clothes paraded on Him, and then stripped naked. Taken naked through the streets. Nailed to a tree, a pole, a cross. Made to suffer. Spiritually attacked and broken. Like a sheep slaughtered. He didn’t even utter a single lie. Not one. It wasn’t for HIS actions that He was hit. That He bled. That He suffered. It was HIS agony, HIS bruises, HIS wounds, and HIS stripes that released healing for EVERYONE – not just the saved.

This wasn’t frivolous. This ended the war of God toward sin. It has now been dealt with. It is over. Isaiah was prophesying the end to the war. After that point (his future, our past), the Righteous Servant of God (Jesus) would justify EVERYONE who was willing to accept it. Because He (Jesus) poured out His blood, His life, and was willing to be numbered with the transgressors, He (Jesus) became our intercession. He became the Way through which we get back to God without judgment – because the sin has already been judged. Repentance, yes. Humble submission, yes. Worship and praise, yes. But HIS finished work, not ours. HIS sacrifice, not ours. All of HIM, none of us. By mercy and grace, through our trust in Him, we receive.

The Suffering Servant of Isaiah 52:13-53:12 is the clearest picture in all of scripture of Mashiach ben Yossef (Messiah the descendant of Joseph). And it was clearly and demonstrably fulfilled by Yeshua ben Yossef (Jesus, son of Joseph) when He came as a man and walked this Earth. Jesus IS Messiah. Jesus IS the Anointed One. Jesus IS our salvation. Jesus IS our redeemer. And Jesus WILL BE our FINAL redeemer, Mashiach ben David -(Messiah the descendant of David, through Nathan, son of David). The conquering King. The Triumphant Redeemer. The Son of the Most High.

Summary

Key Players: God, Jesus, Isaiah

Key Verse(s): Isaiah 51:1-6, 12-16, 21-23; 52:5-10, 13-15; 53:3-5, 10-12