Perhaps it doesn’t seem like much that Isaiah foretold the crucifixion of Jesus, 700 years before He came. Maybe you think it was just a lucky guess. Maybe so, until you consider the amazing detail he foresaw. Isaiah’s most complete prophecy about the crucifixion is found in Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12. Here’s a few of the details:

Isaiah knew that Jesus would begin as a baby and grow to be an apparently ordinary young boy:

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. (Isaiah 53:2)

He knew that most people would not accept Him:

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. (Isaiah 53:3)

He told how and why Jesus would be killed:

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)

How Jesus would respond:

He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. (Isaiah 53:7)

And where Jesus would be buried:

Despite all of that, Isaiah knew that God’s will and purpose would be accomplished:

Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life a guilt offering.., (Isaiah 53:10a)

And that Jesus would be resurrected!

he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. (Isaiah 53:10b)

After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; (Isaiah 53:11a)

Most amazingly, Isaiah knew that by Jesus’ death and resurrection, those who “knew” Him, who entered into an intimate relationship with Him, would be “justified” – declared righteous by God!

by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. (Isaiah 53:11b)

There is more; I only included the highlights. It would be worth giving the whole passage a slow and thoughtful reading. But with each of those details, it was as though, 700 years in advance, Isaiah was describing a precisely shaped, missing puzzle piece. Jesus fit each of those prophesied details exactly – even the ones that happened after He was killed. And many more. But don’t let this simply be amazing. Make sure you are one of those who are justified by knowing Jesus. (See “Accepting the Gift”)

Chew on that…

By the way, I’m happy to receive your comments and questions. They help me decide what to write.