December 18 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Devotional

Most Jewish people still reject Jesus because they cannot imagine a Messiah who would suffer. They think that the Messiah must be glorious. Yet Jesus himself said that if they would only read carefully, they would believe that he was the Messiah of whom the Old Testament spoke. Christ suffered "according to the Scriptures." And Isaiah 53 is the great chapter of his suffering.

But the Jews do not want to admit that Isaiah 53 speaks of their Mes­siah. Maybe this suffering servant of God is the prophet Isaiah, they say. Or maybe this passage speaks of the suffering of the Jewish nation.

We should talk about this passage with everyone but especially with Jewish people who still believe that it is a Word of God. We owe that to them, because it is through the Jews that we have received salvation in Jesus. We should ask them, "Who is this innocent one in Isaiah 53? It says here that he suffers under the wrath of God and that he does so in the place of others. Who is he?"

The Ethiopian who found Jesus as Savior was reading Isaiah 53 in the Jewish Scripture. He asked the right question: "Who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?"

Christians of many races may now explain Isaiah 53 to their neighbors (who may not have time for such things because there is one more week to go before Christmas). We must especially seek out the Jews who do not celebrate Christmas.

The Jews are the oldest sons and daughters among God's children. It's time for them to come home. Let's talk to them. We have the whole Old Testament in common. It's best to start with Isaiah 53. And then, beginning with "that very passage of Scripture," tell them the good news of Jesus (Acts 8:35).

REFLECTIONS

Would you be able to use the Bible to explain the good news to an inquirer? Why would Isaiah 53 be a good passage to use?

Andrew Kuyvenhoven's Daylight, a modern devotional classic, was originally published by Paideia Press in 1977. This updated edition is copyright 2009 by Faith Alive Christian Resources. You can order a copy of this revised version of the book directly from the publisher.

A man of many accomplishments, Andrew Kuyvenhoven is probably best known for his contributions to Today (formerly The Family Altar), a widely-used monthly devotional booklet associated with the Back to God Hour. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations for this updated edition of Daylight are from the Holy Bible: Today's New International Version copyright 2001, 2005 by the International Bible Society.