Isaiah 53:6 (ESV) - All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

In my lifetime, I’ve witnessed many false prophecies about the end of the world. Those who attempt these predictions are brave because unless you set the date beyond your lifetime, you have a chance of proving yourself a fool. False prophecies are promises that never come to pass. They are pictures of the future that never take place as predicted. 

Harold Camping is a man who predicted the end of the world no less than 12 times. Spoiler alert: each one was wrong. The Mayan calendar ended in 2012, leaving many to speculate that the end of the world was coming. It did not. William Miller was a religious leader in the 1800’s who predicted Jesus’ return on two different specific dates. Neither happened.

In our passage today, we see a prophecy from Isaiah that is given over 600 years prior to the birth of Jesus. The prophet Isaiah is communicating about the role of the Messiah as the Suffering Servant. This figure would bear the penalty of sin for His people. Their rebellion would sit on His shoulders. The sheep who wandered astray would find reconciliation by the Good Shepherd outlined in Isaiah 53. 

Was this prophecy fulfilled? Did Isaiah’s vision come to pass? Praise be to God! The answer is yes. When Jesus came into the world, He did not come solely as a teacher or healer. He came to save. He is the suffering servant Isaiah describes to us.

At the cross, Jesus has our sins,
the sheep that strayed, laid on Him.
Our iniquities are transferred to Him
so that we might bear them no more.
Our sins are forgiven through the finished work of Jesus.

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The prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled in Christ. This is a good reminder to us that God always keeps His Word, and no prophecy of Scripture was ever produced by man, but of God.

Reflection & Journal:
- Why do you think so many people fall victim to false prophecies?
- What does Isaiah’s prophecy in Isaiah 53 tell us about the coming Messiah? What are some descriptions?
- What is the difference between God-given prophecies and man-made prophecies?

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