Isaiah, the Messiah, and Missions

Isaiah has been termed “the Fifth Gospel” because it presents a clear picture of the messiah, probably more so than any other Old Testament book. I want to take this post to illustrate a couple of the places that are obviously messianic, but, as you are probably sick of hearing me say – please study this book on your own! Count the number of references to Christ. Consider how you would share Christ with a Jewish person using just this book.

Chapter 53 is one of the most well-known passages dealing with the Messiah in the Old Testament. This description of the Suffering Servant is a clear passage about Christ! I would say that you could teach the Gospel from this passage… but don’t take my word for it! Acts 8:26-39 tells the story of how Philip did just that! God sent him to an Ethiopian eunuch who was reading through Isaiah – specifically, chapter 53 – and “Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus” (Acts 8:35). Could you share the good news about Jesus starting with Isaiah 53?

In a discussion about the inclusion of the Gentiles in God’s blessing, we see in 56:1-8 a theme that Jesus picks up: The temple will be called a “House of prayer for all nations.” This also fills the criteria of being both messianic and missions-minded. The reason that these overlaps are so important? Because without a messiah, there would be no room for the inclusion of the Gentiles in God’s plan! He made peace for those who were far off and those who were near, tearing down the dividing wall of hostility.

An excellent plan of further study in this fascinating book would be to read Isaiah alongside Romans and Hebrews, two New Testament books that interpret the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies in Christ.