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STUDY 12: CHRIST: LIGHT OF THE WORLD; SON OF DAVID – ISAIAH 2 & 4

© Rosemary Bardsley 2024

As indicated in an earlier study Isaiah’s message has different levels of fulfilment. There is, for example, an immediate and narrow application to the sin of Judah and the judgement that must follow, and a long term and broader application to human sin and the final judgement. There is an immediate call to Judah to repent and be saved from the impending physical judgements, and a long term global call to repentance and faith, to receive eternal salvation and escape the final, eternal judgement. Isaiah’s message addresses the rebellious Judah at that time, but it also addresses all mankind in their rejection of God whenever it is read or heard.

It is in relation to the global, spiritual, eternal perspective that we find references to Jesus Christ, the salvation he brings, and the judgement he executes, scattered throughout Isaiah. Some of these are quite extensive; others are passing references that are quite easy to miss. We will spend several studies looking at Isaiah’s anticipations of Jesus Christ.

A. SETTING THE SCENE

The New Testament affirms that the truth about Jesus Christ and the salvation he brings is embedded in the Old Testament. Jesus and the apostles tell us that those old prophets knew that they were speaking of something significant, but could not see clearly what it was. They longed to understand it, but they couldn’t.

Check these verses. What do you learn about this?
Matthew 13:16, 17

Luke 24:25 – 27

Luke 24:44 – 47

John 5:36 – 47

1Peter 1:10, 11

In speaking of the Gospel – the good news about Jesus Christ – the apostles referred to it as the ‘mystery’ of God, that had been there all the time, but was now disclosed, now out in the open, for every believer to see, no longer a ‘mystery’, no longer ‘secret’.

Check these verses:
Matthew 13:11

Romans 16:25, 26

1Corinthians 2:7

Ephesians 1:9

Ephesians 3:2 – 6, 9

Colossians 1:25 – 2:3

Having come to know Jesus Christ and his salvation from the New Testament, we can turn to the Old Testament and find there that same Jesus Christ, and that same salvation – from the virgin conception of Christ to his return in power and glory at the end of the age, when he comes to judge the earth and to establish the ‘new heavens and new earth’. But even more than that, we find in Isaiah Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the eternal Creator, the Sovereign King, the Lord of all. As we saw in the study on Isaiah's vision of the Lord, that Lord, high and exalted, was Jesus Christ.

B. JESUS CHRIST – THE WORD OF GOD, THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

Isaiah 2:2 says ‘In the last days ...’. Isaiah then goes on to describe three things: [1] the global impact of the word of God and the light of God going out from Jerusalem; [2] the peace that will ultimately be established; and [3] the terror brought on by the Day of Judgement. The reference to ‘the last days’ clearly looks beyond the immediate issues connected with Judah’s sin, to the coming of Jesus Christ and his gospel – in the period of time that Hebrews 1:2 calls ‘these last days’ (see also 1Peter 1:20 – ‘these last times’). Note that right through his ministry Isaiah speaks again and again about each of these three aspects of his message.

Looking back from the New Testament perspective, check these parallels:
[1] Jerusalem (Zion, the Mountain of the LORD) as the source of the Gospel:

Isaiah 2:3

Luke 9:31

Luke 18:31

Luke 24:47

Acts 1:8

[2] Jesus as the Word of God and the Light of the world
Isaiah 2:3, 5

Matthew 4:16

Luke 1:78, 79

Luke 2:32

John 1:1 – 9

John 1:18

John 3:19

John 8:12

[3] The inter-personal peace established and enabled by the Gospel
Isaiah 2:4

Galatians 3:26 – 29

Ephesians 2:11 – 18

[4] The terror of the final judgement
Isaiah 2:9 – 11, 19 – 21

Matthew 24:26 – 31

Luke 21:25 – 28

Revelation 6:12 – 17

[5] The Day of Judgement and human arrogance
Isaiah 2:12 – 17

Revelation 16:17 – 21

Revelation 18:7 – 10, 16 – 19

The Christ through whom the word and the light of God goes out from Jerusalem, the Mountain of the Lord, is the same Christ, the same Lord, through whom God’s final judgement is executed and completed. He who was sent by the Father to bring us light and salvation, is also the One to whom the Father has entrusted all judgement – John 5:22, 27.

C. THE MOUNTAIN OF THE LORD

Read this meditation for additional insights.

Isaiah mentions the ‘mountain of the LORD’ quite a few times. If we trace the history of the Mountain of the Lord (Mount Moriah, where Jerusalem (Zion) was located), and its intimate connection with Jesus Christ, we find:

[1] That it was on this mountain that God provided a ram as a substitute for Isaac – read Genesis 22:1 – 14. Note verse 14: ‘Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.”’ Here on this mountain, God also provides a substitute for all who believe in him – Christ, who bore our sins in his body on the cross (1Peter 2:24); Christ, ‘the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world’ (John 1:29).

[2] That is was on this mountain that God directed the Temple to be built, which, like the Tabernacle it replaced, contained multiple prophetic symbols proclaiming Jesus Christ and the ultimate salvation that he gives us:

There daily, weekly, monthly and annual sacrifices were offered – all pointing ahead to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ once-for-all (Hebrews 9:14, 28).

There were the priests and the High Priest – all pointing ahead to Jesus Christ, the one, eternal High Priest, the one Mediator between God and man (Hebrews 4:14 – 16; 9:11 – 15).

There was the golden candlestick, always burning, pointing to Jesus Christ, the Light of the World (John 8:12).

There was the table of the ‘shewbread’ – speaking of Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life (John 6:35).

There was the incense altar, where the High Priest offered prayer on behalf of the people, pointing to Jesus Christ, our Mediator, in whose Name our prayers are acceptable to the Father (John 16:23, 24; Ephesians 2:18; Hebrews 7:25).

There was the prohibitive curtain, barring our access to God, but now forever ripped away by the death of Christ, giving those who believe in him permanent, present, uninhibited access into the very presence of God (Matthew 27:50, 51; Hebrews 10:19 – 22).

There, the Temple itself spoke of God’s presence, pointing us to Jesus Christ, whose name is ‘Immanuel’ – God with us (Isaiah 7:14).

[3] There, on this mountain, Jesus died. For this reason, to die on this Mountain, he set himself steadfastly towards Jerusalem, towards his death, in order to fulfill all the symbolic predictions about him tied to this Mountain. He could not die anywhere else. It is on this Mountain that a substitute is provided and salvation is accomplished.

Thus it is from this Mountain that the Gospel of Jesus Christ goes out to all nations, and attracts people from all nations to the Lord.

C.1 The Mountain of the Lord in Isaiah

Study Isaiah’s references to the ‘Mountain’ of the Lord. What connection do you find with (1) Jesus Christ, (2) people of all nations, and (3) the last days, including the peace that Jesus brings?
4:2 – 6

8:18 (see Hebrews 2:13)

11:9

18:7

25:6 – 8

27:13

65:25

Did you notice the powerful statement about Jesus Christ in 25:6 – 8? That ‘on this mountain’ he will ‘destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples ... he will swallow up death forever’? That is what Jesus did, firstly by his death, and finally at the end of the age, after which there will be no more death (Revelation 21:4).

D. JESUS CHRIST – THE ‘BRANCH’

In 4:2 Isaiah refers to ‘the Branch of the LORD’. This concept of Jesus Christ as a ‘branch’ identifies him as the promised descendant of David whose kingdom would be eternal.

In his last words (2Samuel 23:5), King David expressed his confidence that his ‘house’ was secure because of the everlasting covenant God had made with him. Here David remembered the promises God made to him in 2Samuel 7:

‘Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever’ – 2Samuel 7:16.

[Read Section E in this study for discussion of this Davidic Covenant.]

While Isaiah refers to Jesus as the ‘Branch’ only one other time, he mentions ‘David’ several times when anticipating the coming of Christ the eternal King.

Check these references to Jesus as a ‘Branch’, or King in David’s line. What do you learn about the nature of his reign and his kingdom?
Isaiah 4:2 – 6

Isaiah 9:7

Isaiah 11:1 – 12


Isaiah 16:5

Isaiah 22:22 (see also Revelation 3:7)

Isaiah 55:3, 4

See also:
Jeremiah 23:5

Jeremiah 33:15 – 22

Ezekiel 34:23, 24

When Jesus came he was identified as this descendant of David, through whom not only Israel but people from all nations would be saved. His kingdom, while inaugurated and expanding during the ‘church age’ (between his first and second comings) extends beyond that, into the age to come – into the new heavens and new earth that he will establish. It is a kingdom of righteousness, justice and peace. Isaiah teaches us that the salvation Jesus brings includes:

Being ‘called holy’ – 4:3.
Cleansing from guilt – 4:4
The presence of God – 4:5
Glory and safety – 4:5, 6

Check these New Testament references. What do you learn about the person and work of Jesus Christ, the Son of David?
Mathew 1:1

Matthew 15:22

Matthew 21:4 – 11

Luke 1:32, 33

Luke 1:68 – 75

Luke 2:4, 11

Luke 18:35 – 43

John 7:42

Acts 2:25 – 36

Acts 13:22, 23, 32 – 37

Romans 1:3

Romans 15:12

Revelation 3:7

Revelation 5:5

Revelation 22:16

The New Testament writers present Jesus’ identity as the ‘branch’ or descendant of David as a key factor: they mention it in connection with his human ancestry, his birth, his miracles, his identity as the Messiah (the King, the Son of God), the salvation he accomplishes for both Jew and Gentile, his resurrection, his victory, his rule and authority.


D.1 The glory and beauty of Jesus Christ
There is another truth about Jesus Christ in Isaiah’s description of ‘the Branch of the LORD’ – that he is ‘beautiful and glorious’ (4:2). This glory is seen in several places in Old Testament anticipations of Jesus Christ:

Although hidden from human view, it is embedded in the beauty and glory of the Most Holy Place.

It is proclaimed in the High Priest’s garments – Exodus 28:2, 40 (where some translations have ‘glory and beauty’).

The whole earth is full of his glory – Isaiah 6:3.

The salvation he brings – his ‘rest’ – is glorious – Isaiah 11:10.

His throne is glorious – a seat of honour – Isaiah 22:22, 23.

His reign is glorious – Isaiah 24:23.

By his coming, the glory of God is revealed – Isaiah 35:2; 40:5; 60:1, 2.

Because of him, God’s glory is proclaimed to the nations – Isaiah 66:18, 19.

And when he came, that is what is reported.

What do these verses say about the glory of Jesus Christ?
Luke 2:14

John 1:14

John 2:11

John 17:4, 5

John 17:24

2Corinthians 4:6

Reflection: In this study we have looked at a number of references to Jesus Christ in chapters 2 and 4, in which Isaiah either identifies Jesus Christ, or connects Jesus to other significant concepts. Which of these has helped you to better understand the person and work of Jesus Christ? Explain how.