The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-01-21
SUNDAY MEDITATION.


SUBJECT: IsAIAH's PROPHECY or CHRIsTs
SUFFERISGs.
1. Preliminary
The Prophet Isaiah is frequently styled the
Evangelical Prophet. Indeed, jerome declares
the author is not so much the Prophet as the
Evangelist. If there wers any question a. 20
this fact, the chapter we study would settle tt.
In his commentary. Alexander M0rus says:
As mneh as the Prophet exeels all others, so
much does the prediction published in this sd
chapter seem to surpass all bis 0thGr prophe-
cies." By evanEeic we mean GOspel-hke-
akin 10 the New Testament spirit, full Of glad
tIdings- Such Is the prophecy OF Isaiah, and
such in special is the SD chapter. All through
il there is the odor Of the Gospel. One can we'll
imagine himself reading the 27th chapter Of
st. Matthew's biography of orr Savior
Remember, this chapter is IN the Old Testa-
meuf and was written 200 b. @. IL is the hasts
OF the Jewish expectation of n coming Messiah.
When Christ came TO earth he so fully matched
tho pruphesied description as not 10 leave =
question in the mind Of an unparalleled person
IA 20 hia being the subject Of it, IL Is no
wonder so many jews have been converted 70
Christianity through a study Of the AID cLapter
OF tho prophecy of Isaiah. One snch. 10. Isaac
Lsvita. declares: " / freely ayOw that this very
chapter led me TO the Christian faith. for I read
it through more than thousand times"
When our Savior said TO SIS. Peter. James
and John: The Son of Man mnst suiIer many
things aud DO set at nOught" Mark I2)i
that il is written such shall be the ease, he
mist have had in mind V. 3 Of the lesson.
We recall what Philip said to the Ethiopian
eunueh. Hs found Candace's servant reading
the Bible, and tho chapter CHANGED TO DO our
| lesson. The euuuch could not imagine con-
corning whom the Prophet Isaiah told so sad
story, and inquired Of Philip. Philip showed
i hiIH the verses referred TO Jesus. Acts, 5:2T-
| 3d.
3. Isaiah 50 refers 10 Christ
That the chapter was written before our
Savior was born is clear from tho many quota
] tions from IL in the New Testament. Th5
/ Jews prior to Christs birth, believed 10 re-
I foTrsd 10 the Messiah When Christians began
to ply this chapter against the Jews for reject
/ ing Christ, in ssif-defeuso the Hebrews sought
sOme other explanation. Modern Jewish COM
/ mentatoTs, as a rule, refer the chapter to tina
| Messiah yet to come.
/ SIS. Matthew, Mark, LIKE and John all held
the chapter refers 70 Christ. Sc. Matthew
I quotes V. in his Gospel (S:I7.) Sts. Mark
and Luke quote V Il. lSt. Mark, II %; st. Luz,
- 81 ST. John quotes v. l. (I2: 81, 49,
/ SO. Luke also quotes VS.. 2, 8. (Acts, 81 32-35.J
/ Sc. Paul quotes V. l. (Ro., 10 rs. Read also
/ l Pet, 1 i: 10; 2:21-2J; 1 John, 3 .; ST. Mark,
o: -; Ro., 4: %; Cor. 10: B; Cor, 5a2l.)
True. tbs prophecy is largely in the past
i
revelation. The Prophet behold the scene placed
before him in pictures actually representing
l beforehand what was TO occur several centuries
/ later. But ne wrote IS a reporter, as one would
| who actually witnessed our Savior'5 suferings.
Tho Church is as one in understanding the
chapter AZ a prophecy Of the Messiah. And
/ what q wonderful revelation It c0uld be be-
lieved only with great faith. It's declarations
were unique. Who shall believe it-belisye the
Son OF God is destined TO such humiliation,
/ suffering, insult; destined TO such fate in the
interest Of his enemies, sinners; destined TO
hatred, iguominy, sorrow aud pain by his own
consent and by the will Of HeaVenr
,. The Verses Explained.
Verse /. Who has4aith to accept the doctrine
Of Christ'5 sutfering5 az a revelation from God
aud q manifestation OF the Divine power. an
act Of the Amightys armP What descrip-
ton. What a Savior.
Verses 2 and 3 tell how unWelCome Christ
WAS 10 DO 10 cur world. Verses 4 to describe
our Savior's grief, affection. pain and disgracs
in the interest of humanity. Verse 8 gives
aCrOHnt OF the Messiah3s arrest, trial, verdict,
and violent death. Verse o lets us know Of his
burial. Verses 10 to II show the results Of the
eFueihxon.
Verses g and J set Christ forth, resembling a
tender plant, not well rooted, with a c0uGte-
nance robbed Of beauty through his great
SORROWS. so shocking that in his presence the
people covered their eyes to escape the sight oil
the di-agreeabie object.
Verses TO specify his griefs, sorrows, suf
foFugs, shame. It would seem one Innocent
could not be so afflicted. Hence the people in
feTred that be was stricken Gas z. O., with lep-
! rosy by an act Of vengeance from Heaven.
How can we acknowledge his sinlessness aud
admit his lOWly and despicable and painful
cOnditiOnl He is bearing it ali in behalf OF
others, who are sinners. Through his chastise.
| 1 II
wicked men. ". 81 Here IS the explanation
of the incarnation. This thought let's light
down on Calvary. "All, every one" (Y. 81 had
gOuO astray. Without word of complaint
Jesus dies IN the interest Of lost mankind.
Verse takes us to Gethsemane, the JudR
ment Hall, Calvary. He was not put into
prison and allowed time for public opinion 70
soften aud opportunity for fair trial. He wa,
a prisoner but not IN prison. He WIS led of
from the Judgment Hall, which was praeti
cally temporary prison, led away from the
place Of sentence C"judgment"). Who car
tell the depravity OF a generation ". 81 whict
. could ANONYMOUSLY put TO death {" cut Oft %
q righteous mana man so free from viOieucI
, as to be styled a lamb2 ". ~
T Verse takes Us 10 the garden in which wa
the tomb of the rich man, Joseph. In thi
, verse we should, Instead of made" render ap
point, and read they appointed Iris grave with
the Outcast criminal dead" It was thought
great disgrace to have an inferior burial. Those
: crueifed met such fate. But our SAVIOR
humiliation WAS ~ end on the cross. He had
done no violence" w. o. This fact would
lead righteous man like Joseph 20. offer hin
an honorable sepulcher. Mans rescus from siI
had no relation TO the disposition of Christ
corpse. So Providence favored the proposition
: of the rich Joseph.
Verses 10 20 II exhibit the consequences o
. our SaviOr's life aud death. Our Heavenly
. Father was pleased, pleased not to witnes
I ChrisHs humiliation, but gratifed at man
!: salvation, willing to pay so great price for 81
4 much return; pease,t TO see the work pros
per" ". I0) throughout the centuries.
Q Christ also il pleased. The Offering was
: fearful sacrifice. but il will be as nothing whel
r down through the centuries He shall see man
: kind made happy for time and rescued 70
0 eternity. His lOwliHess WIS temporary. III
e did not remain in the grave. His days wer
Q prolonged (V. IOl a result Of the resurrec
. ton. The travail Of soul (V. III is quite oh
q liberated in the joy He has over the Ofsprin
q of salvation. ". 10.) Christ will be satisfied
. He will not regret Bethlehem nor Calvary, be
. holding the joy of the redeemed. And Chris
a will rejoice as u eOuquerOr. His life and deaf
o were q fight with all the evil powers. He over
came and carried OF the booty, the results q
salvation. All the possessions thus seized ar
TO be divided among the saved. Each frien
Q of Christ each who fights for him shall shsr
. the benefits Of the general conflict betwee
a holiness aud sim The redeemed are 9Th
o strong" WHY
a But hear the good newsi Mankind az