Over the season of Advent, we will be looking at snapshot of what Isaiah has to teach us about the coming of Jesus, as the Word made flesh. Theologians and Bible scholars of past generations sometimes spoke of Isaiah as the ‘fifth Gospel’, so deep were his insights into the coming of the Messiah. Indeed, Isaiah often explores and presents the Gospel in terms that are ‘internal’ to the life of the Trinity. As we ponder the chapters of this ancient prophecy, we hear the advent of Christ being spoken of between the Father and the Son, and from within the mind of Christ Himself. We come to grasp His own intentions and purposes as He takes on human nature; as the Sovereign Lord sends Him endowed with His Spirit (Is.48:16).
The actual Gospel writers fully grasped the significance of Isaiah’s writings, and as such freely referenced them. There are many allusions to Isaiah as we work through the Gospel accounts if Jesus’ life on earth. And there are many places where the writings of Isaiah are explicitly and consciously cited. We’re taking several of those passages as our readings for the Advent season. Each will reveal to us the dynamics of the incarnation and God’s gracious purposes in sending His Son to redeem His people.
But before we get into the details of each specific passage (and there are more than we will be able to cover through Advent), the fact of their existence is worth pause for thought. The fact that such passages exist at all is a unique phenomenon. The fact that hundreds of them exist almost defies belief. And again, it is Isaiah who teaches us how to make sense of what is going on. One of my favorite sections of the Book compares and contrasts the Living God of heaven and earth with the lifeless idols of human creation. The Lord mocks them and calls on them to prove their claim to divinity. Amongst other challenges, the Lord suggests they ‘declare to us the things to come, tell us what the future holds. Do something, whether good or bad, so that we will be dismayed and filled with fear’ (Is.41:22-23). Two things are worthy of note as we begin our study this week. The first is that the capacity to foretell the future is a quality that belongs to God alone. The fact of prophecy evidences the integrity of the inspiration of Isaiah by the Spirit of God; and of the events which he foretells. And secondly, our response when confronted by One who can ‘declare to us the things to come’ should include dismay and fear. We are confronted by One whose relationship to history is fundamentally different to ours. We are used to thinking of Him as a baby in a manger. But Isaiah’s dealing with Christ stretch back before His Incarnation.
Read Is.6:1-13
Why do you think the Lord grants Isaiah this vision ‘in the year that King Uzziah died’? What is it about King Uzziah’s death that invites this encounter?
What difference does it make to you that this is the Lord who became flesh in Jesus of Nazareth (John 12:37-41)?
Why is the holiness of the Lord Almighty worthy of worship (6:3)? And why is this the attribute of Christ that inspires the seraphim’s worship? Does it inspire worship in us?
Why does this encounter with Jesus provoke the response it does from Isaiah (6:5)? Should this be part of our response to Jesus?
What are the similarities and differences between Jesus’ pre-incarnate glory as seen here by Isaiah, and His post-incarnate glory as seen for example by John (Rev.1:12-18)?
Why does the coal take away Isaiah’s guilt? What does it mean for the seraph to say that his sin is atoned for (6:7)? How does this pre-empt the incarnate ministry of Jesus?
Why can Isaiah not hear the voice of Christ before v.8?
Why doesn’t Jesus simply send one of the Seraph to do His bidding?
Why does the Lord send Isaiah on such a counter-productive mission (vv.9-13)? How are these dynamics replicated in Jesus’ incarnate ministry (John 12:37-41)? Are they replicated in the experience of the Church today?
Why is Isaiah willing to undertake such a hopeless mission?
