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pp. 108 - 111
When the Lord Jesus opened the Scriptures to His disciples on that memorable walk to
Emmaus, He said:--
"O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not
Christ to have suffered these things, and to have entered into His glory? And beginning
at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things
concerning Himself" (Luke 24: 25-27).
Prophecy is spoken of as a light that shineth in a dark place, but it is a light that has
gone out when Christ is not the centre, for it is true not only in the limited sense of the
quotation, but in the widest sense, "the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy". See
how decidedly Philip takes this view as recorded in Acts 8: 35. To the Eunuch,
reading Isa. 53:, "Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and
preached unto him Jesus". This chapter in Isaiah is a good illustration of the subject.
The last three verses of Isa. 53: must be included in the theme of chapter 53: The
exalted servant is Christ, for the words, "for that which had not been told them shall they
see", are quoted in Rom. 15: 21 as of the gospel of Christ. That Christ is the "arm of the
Lord" of 53: 1 is proved by John 12: 38, for the apostle says:--
"But though He had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on
Him: that the saying of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who
hath believed our report? and to whom hath the Arm of the Lord been revealed?"
The next section which opens with the words, "Surely He hath borne our griefs, and
carried our sorrows", is quoted as of Christ in relation to His miracles of healing, "that it
might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, Himself took our
infirmities and bare our sicknesses" (Matt. 8: 17). Peter, speaking of Christ's
sufferings, quotes the words of Isa. 53: 5 and 6, in I Pet. 2: 24, 25, "By whose stripes
ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the
Shepherd and Bishop of your souls". In verse 22 of the same chapter Peter refers to the
words, "He hath done no violence, neither was any deceit in His mouth". The last
reference is in verse 12, "He was numbered with the transgressors", which Mark 15: 28,
says was fulfilled when the Lord was crucified amidst the thieves.
On that walk to Emmaus, however, Christ did not apparently direct the disciples'
attention to a few outstanding prophecies, but began at Moses. It may be well for us to
refresh our memories of these things, and while we cannot hope to touch "all the
scriptures" which speak concerning Him, we may be able to trace the thread of prophecy,
and confirm to our hearts the blessed truth that in prophecy as in all else Christ is all.
THE SEED OF THE WOMAN (Gen. 3: 15).--The very heart and soul of redemption
is revealed in this primal prophecy. The history of redemption begins and ends with the
history of the serpent. The serpent's seed betrayed its innate enmity at the very gates of
paradise, for "Cain was of that wicked one and slew his brother". What is the title of the
One who should overcome and destroy this awful power of evil? He is not named here