#1 - Jesus Christ As Our Centerpiece
Isaiah Unplugged Series
A journey into the study of Isaiah and understanding his prophesy, particularly as they relate to you and to me.
The prophecies of Isaiah are broad yet also narrow, plain yet hidden, wonderful yet terrible. The Lord said Isaiah spoke concerning all thing related to the house of Israel (see 3 Nephi 23). There are several major themes embedded in the writings of Isaiah and many other ancient prophets. This section will focus on three main themes, including the following: 1) the central role of Jesus Christ in the salvation of the people of God, 2) testimonies of the doctrine of Christ found in his prophecies, and 3) the promise to fulfill his covenant to the house of Israel.
Jesus Christ: Centerpiece of Isaiah
Nephi loved teaching his people the plainness of the gospel. The Lord was the centerpiece of his teachings. Everything he wrote pointed toward the Redeemer.
Nephi wrote, “For the right way is to believe in Christ and deny him not; for by denying him ye also deny the prophets and the law.” This point was so important to Nephi that he repeated is a second time, “And now behold, I say unto you that the right way is to believe in Christ, and deny him not; and Christ is the Holy One of Israel” (2 Nephi 25:28-29).
Christ As Your Centerpiece
Have you made Jesus Christ the centerpiece of your study and the focus of your life? If you have not yet done this yet, what steps will you take to make him that centerpiece of your life?
Finding the Mark
I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase, Looking beyond the mark. We hear that sometimes as an accusation within our wards and stakes as people seek to know deeper doctrines. We sometimes hear people or leaders say, “He’s looking beyond the mark.” Have you ever wondered what that mark is? In church culture, that mark is the doctrines established by the church, or more specifically, following the guidance established by the leadership. “Follow the prophet,” has become the marching call of the church and its leaders. If you seek anything outside of the prescribed doctrines and policies set by the leaders, then you have gone beyond that mark.
Unfortunately, many of us have set the wrong marker as our target. Jesus Christ should be that mark, and those who seek doctrines so deep that they go beyond Jesus Christ, they no longer focus or center their search and study on the Savior, then yes, they have gone beyond the mark. On the other hand, if our study and searching has not led us to the Savior and our focus is on more worldly than spiritual things, we haven’t even yet reached the mark.
But if your focus is on Jesus Christ, whether you are in or out of the good graces of the church, whether you are on the beginning of the path or much farther along, whether you have shaky or solid testimonies or understand, at least you are focused on the right mark. Continue your path, and it will lead you to Jesus Christ.
Helaman said it well as he taught his sons, Nephi and Lehi.
O remember, remember, my sons, the words which king Benjamin spake unto his people; yea, remember that there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who shall come; yea, remember that he cometh to redeem the world.
And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.
Helaman 5:9, 12
Making Jesus Christ the centerpiece of your study and of your life puts you on a foundation that is firm and secure. You “cannot fall” if you keep him as your focus, as your foundation. If you are studying on other things that are not focused on the Savior, Jesus Christ, then your footing is going to be set upon a shaky or sandy foundation.
Fulfilling the Law
I love how Nephi adores his Lord. He writes, “And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins” (2 Nephi 25:26). You can see how Nephi makes Jesus Christ the centerpiece of his life and teaches his children and people to do so.
You remember Nephi’s statement, “The right way is to believe in Christ and deny him not; for by denying him ye also deny the prophets and the law.” Alma records a beautiful explanation of that the sacrifice of the Lord expounding on this idea stating that the every aspect of the Lord’s sacrifice points toward that law and the prophets.
And behold, this is the whole meaning of the law, every whit pointing to that great and last sacrifice; and that great and last sacrifice will be the Son of God, yea, infinite and eternal. And thus he shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name; this being the intent of this last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice, and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance.
Alma 34:14-15
Isaiah Centers on Christ
I realize that we’re discussing how Isaiah’s writings center and focus upon Jesus Christ. The entire book of Isaiah is centered upon the Lord. As you read Isaiah’s writings, you may wonder how that is. Remember that the Jehovah of the Old Testament is the Jesus Christ of the New Testament, and the God of our day. The entirety of the book of Isaiah follows the theme of a rebellious people who rejected the Lord and their journey back to the Lord’s grace and presence.
Nephi saw this theme and how Jesus Christ was the centerpiece of Isaiah’s writings. He wrote, “And I did read many things unto them which were written in the books of Moses; but that I might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord their Redeemer I did read unto them that which was written by the prophet Isaiah” (1 Nephi 19:23, emphasis added).
Isn’t that interesting? They had the law and the prophets as found within the brass plates that Nephi retrieved from Laban. They already knew and followed the law, but to more fully persuade his people to believe in Christ, he read Isaiah’s writings to them. When you read the book of Isaiah, does it more fully persuade you to believe in Christ?
Nephi’s brother Jacob does the same thing.
I speak unto you again; for I am desirous for the welfare of your souls. Yea, mine anxiety is great for you; and ye yourselves know that it ever has been. For I have exhorted you with all diligence; and I have taught you the words of my father; and I have spoken unto you concerning all things which are written, from the creation of the world. And now, behold, I would speak unto you concerning things which are, and which are to come; wherefore, I will read you the words of Isaiah. And they are the words which my brother has desired that I should speak unto you. And I speak unto you for your sakes, that ye may learn and glorify the name of your God.
2 Nephi 6:3-4
Jacob believed that within Isaiah’s words were the doctrines and principles that would cause his people to learn about God and to glorify him. He could have gone to any other scripture within the records they had to convince their people about God, but they chose to go to Isaiah as their reference. Nephi continues to write about Isaiah after Jacob teaches the people.
And now I, Nephi, write more of the words of Isaiah, for my soul delighteth in his words. For I will liken his words unto my people, and I will send them forth unto all my children, for he verily saw my Redeemer, even as I have seen him…. Behold, my soul delighteth in proving unto my people the truth of the coming of Christ; for, for this end hath the law of Moses been given; and all things which have been given of God from the beginning of the world, unto man, are the typifying of him…. And my soul delighteth in proving unto my people that save Christ should come all men must perish. For if there be no Christ there be no God; and if there be no God we are not, for there could have been no creation. But there is a God, and he is Christ, and he cometh in the fulness of his own time. And now I write some of the words of Isaiah, that whoso of my people shall see these words may lift up their hearts and rejoice for all men.
Isaiah 11:2-8
I love how Nephi continuously says it delights his soul to share these things. Nephi and his brother Jacob adamantly taught their people about Jesus Christ and strove to make him the centerpiece of their lives. They did this partly by teaching the people to study the words of Isaiah.
Isaiah Testifies of Christ
Up to this point, we have been reading other people’s testimony of Christ and how they used Isaiah to testify of Christ. Let’s review a few passages directly from Isaiah’s words and see how he personally testifies of Christ. Let’s see how Isaiah centers all of his thoughts and teachings upon the Savior.
When the Lord was in a synagogue in Nazareth, he was handed a scroll and asked to read for the congregation. Jesus Christ testified of his own divinity and his own role by quoting Isaiah 61. He read, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord” (Isaiah 61:1-2).
If you remember, after he finished reading these words he went and sat down and all the eyes of those in the synagogue watched him. After a moment he said to them that this scripture had been fulfilled in their ears that day. Afterward there was an outbreak of rage and confusion. What they did not understand was how Isaiah testified of him, Jesus Christ the Anointed One.
Isaiah saw in the end days the coming of the Savior and wrote a similar message that the Lord quoted in Nazareth.
Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength?
I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.
Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat?
I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.
Isaiah 63:1-4
Isaiah is talking about the redness of his apparel symbolizing the atonement of Jesus Christ and at the same time symbolizing the blood of the people who will have to answer for their own sins at the time of his second coming. Isaiah emphasizes this idea further.
But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour….
Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour. I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God. Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?
Isaiah 43:1-3, 10-13
This represents the Lord’s own testimony of who he is. Though the people may have followed after false Gods or may not have understood who God is, the Lord testifies that he is the only source of salvation and he is the only true God. There is no other God. I find the Lord’s loves extending through these words. If he did not love his people why would he care to declare who he is or provide hope that they may be saved?
Isaiah expounds on that love as writes about the Lord’s sacrifice in Isaiah 53.
Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth
Isaiah 53:4-9
Coming Closer to God Through Isaiah
I love the testimony of Isaiah, that the Lord gave his life for us, that Jesus Christ is the center and there is nothing else to look for for salvation. He is the centerpiece of the gospel. I love how Joseph Smith testified, “The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the apostles and prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that he died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it.”1
This is the true doctrine and gospel of Jesus Christ of which Isaiah testifies. As we come to study the book of Isaiah, we have an opportunity to come to know the Savior deeper and better. We come to understand that his covenant promise within Isaiah’s writings is all about coming back into his presence, coming back to him, and being redeemed both physically and spiritually.
Understanding the book of Isaiah is understanding the Lord’s covenant promise. As we read the book of Isaiah we will come to see the Lord’s imprint everywhere in there. Everything in there is focused upon the Lord and his promises, his love, and his desire for his people to return to him.
May we diligently study Isaiah’s writings and center that study in the Savior, Jesus Christ.