BibleProject | One Story That Leads to JesusSample

The long night of Israel’s exile drags on and on and on. Back in Jerusalem’s charred remains, a few stragglers try to build a life amidst the rubble. They cling to whatever scraps of hope they can find. Hope feels frail and feeble to exhausted people passing by their temple’s blackened bones every day.

Then comes the surprise. Weary watchmen on the city’s ruined walls look up to see a figure sprinting towards them. A messenger, coming with good news! Despite all the desolation, Yahweh still reigns as King. He’s sending his servant to rule and restore Jerusalem.

Today’s reading offers a surprising introduction to the servant of Yahweh. Nothing about him looks impressive. In fact, suffering has disfigured his appearance almost beyond recognition. As we read on, we learn that the servant suffers because of Israel’s unfaithfulness. Even though he’s coming to rescue the Israelites from the consequences of their rebellion, they’re going to reject the servant and send him to his death. Yikes. That doesn’t sound like particularly good news!

Like the story of Joseph and his brothers, God takes what was planned for evil and creates goodness out of it. The servant accomplishes his mission not in spite of his suffering, but because of it. Watch the video to learn more about Isaiah’s strange good news, and how our suffering servant King, Jesus, fulfills his prophecy.

Reflection Questions

• Compare the description of the new Jerusalem in Isaiah 54 to Revelation 21:9-27. What common themes and images do you notice?
• Meditate on Paul’s quotation of Isaiah 54:1 in Galatians 4:27. How does Isaiah’s prophecy about the restoration of Jerusalem help you understand Paul’s allegorical point in Galatians 4:21-31?