Isaiah 53 is probably one of the most famous passages in the bible. Isaiah lived long before Jesus, but he prophesied what Jesus would do for you and me at the cross. This chapter reveals lots of wonderful things about healing.
Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Isaiah 53,1-3
Isaiah 53 begins with the question: “Who has believed our message?” The bible is full of wonderful promises of God. But for you to have a benefit off it, you need to believe what God says.
For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed. Hebrews 4,2
“They” refers to Israel. They didn’t believe what God said and therefore the message they heard was of no value to them. It is your decision if you want to believe God or not. Faith begins with a decision. You can decide whom or what you believe, and you can decide whom or what you believe more. The doctor may have given you a negative report, but Jesus says that he is the doctor who heals you. Now the question arises whom you believe more: The negative report of the doctor or Jesus, your doctor that never fails?
Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. Romans 10,17
Faith comes by hearing the word of God. Actually, it is expressed even more precisely, namely by hearing the word of Christ. You live under the new covenant. Engage in what Jesus did for you on the cross. See Jesus in his beauty and grace and depend on him having paid the full price for your salvation. After the cross it is no longer about what you have to do, but rather what Jesus has done. Fix your sight on Jesus and feed your faith by hearing good messages of grace. Fill you heart and your thoughts with God’s thoughts about you, how much Jesus loves you, how completely you are forgiven, how highly favoured you are in Jesus, the beloved, and how much Jesus wants to bless you. You are God’s beloved child and he whishes for you to believe him. To believe is essentially nothing else than accepting God’s word as true. The basis for your faith must never be experiences, but solely God’s word. His word is the unshakable basis that withstands and won’t waver in the storms of life. Today, decide to believe Jesus more than anything else.