"Taught by the Lord"

“All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children. In righteousness you shall be established;” (Isaiah 54:13-14 ESV)

There are many messianic prophecies in the writings of Isaiah. This one tells the generation of Isaiah that they shall be taught by the Lord and He shall establish their righteousness. What is amazing about this text is that it was quoted by Jesus, who often quoted the prophets, especially Isaiah.

When we peer into the Gospel of John, we find this quote being deliver to from Jesus to the Israelites in Capernaum. Having told them He was the bread that came down from heaven, the Jews began complaining to each other because they knew He was the son of Joseph of Nazareth. It is here where Jesus told them   No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. (v.6:45) He was telling them He is the resurrection, and that through Him those who believe, on the last day, will go to the Father in heaven.

What is hard to comprehend is that Isaiah, some 700 years or so before Christ, again told of the incarnation. Not only that, Isaiah, told us that Christ would teach the children of Israel. By teaching I mean literally instruct. Not through writings, although Christ frequently referred to the Old Testament, but in the flesh, sitting in the temple of His Father, on earth, in person, taught the children of Abraham.

Even more fantastic is that Jesus taught with authority, not as the Rabbis in the synagogue reciting scripture. In Matthew 7:28-29 we read, “And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.” His glory shown through His veiled deity. Clothed in human form, it was undeniable He was righteous and had the power of God as He was God.

Hardened hearts cause the denial of the Christ. Greed and power caused the denial of the Lord. Foretold by the prophets, announced by John the Baptist, and revealed in the flesh, His own did not recognize Him. (John 1:11)

Imagine Jesus stood before you. What would your heart say? His teaching was made available to you, and whilst He is not teaching in the flesh, He is teaching us in the Spirit, the Holy Spirit. Has He taught you? Do you read the Bible, Do you listen to it recited. With all the applications on everyone’s phones and computers, even if you do not have one, there is one available to you. 

In yesterdays message, I made the point that  So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.“(Romans 10:17). The point being Christ is still teaching and He teaches through His church. Not just through pastors, ministers, or elders, but through the people that make up the church. Isaiah 54:13-14 is a prophecy that began with Christ teaching in the flesh and continues through those who believe. Not only in this a prophecy of the beginning of Christ’s teaching, but it leads to the end times where people will still come to Christ through the word, even in the times of tribulation.

Fantastic is it not? A messianic prophecy that Jesus is who he said He was and is. Our salvation was purchased with the blood of Christ; we were purchased by His propitiation. Will you not come to Him now if you have yet to call on Him to save you from your sins.

Christ taught in the flesh; we teach from the Word. You have now heard, will you not believe?

Grace and Peace.