Sing for What the Messiah Has Done! - Isaiah 54-55; John 6
Thank you for joining us this morning.
Last week, we considered Isaiah 53 in which we saw a prophecy looking forward to the coming of a figure known simply as the Servant of the Lord. We learned that Isaiah 53 caps off a series of songs in the book of Isaiah anticipating the coming of the Servant, describing his character and the work that he would accomplish on earth.
In the preceding servant songs, we gained a profile of the Servant of the Lord and a description of the sort of kingdom that he would usher in. He would be a meek and gentle leader who would love the weak, the downtrodden and the weary. He would establish a kingdom marked by justice, righteousness, and peace. Further, in some way, he would become instrumental in forging a covenant between God and man.
Well, Isaiah 53 serves as an unconventional climax to the ministry of the servant of the Lord in which we learn that he would accomplish all of this by offering himself as a sacrifice to atone for the guilt of mankind. Through his substitutionary death, he would bear the penalty for the sins of the world and make peace between God and man.
This, of course, was a prophecy made 600 years before the coming of Jesus, which explicitly predicted the nature of his character, his earthly ministry, the type of death he would suffer, what he would accomplish through that death, and even his subsequent resurrection and exaltation.
Jesus, the Servant of the Lord, would give himself on the cross, not only suffering at the hands of men who despised and rejected him but also bearing the divine penalty, which is due to your sins and my sins.
Today, we come to the very next chapter – Isaiah 54. In this chapter, we find a song celebrating all that Jesus, the servant of the Lord, would accomplish for his people. His sacrificial death as a substitute for his people would produce incredible benefits for all who would believe in him, so much so that Israel is called upon to break forth into singing!
So, what does this celebratory song focus upon? When we consider what Jesus has accomplished through his cross, what is worth singing about?
First of all, according to verse 1, Israel is called upon to break forth in song because they will now experience abundant fruitfulness:
Isaiah 54:1 ¶ "Sing, O barren one, who did not bear; break forth into singing and cry aloud, you who have not been in labour! For the children of the desolate one will be more than the children of her who is married," says Yahweh.
One of the great fears of the Jews as they languished in captivity would have been that of utter extinction. Their conquerors worked to eliminate their distinctiveness as a people by removing them from their land, destroying their temple, and intermingling them with the surrounding nations. If and when the captivity ended, would they persevere as a people, or would their identity as the people of God forever be lost?
In this song, we learn that because of the sacrificial death of the Servant of the Lord, God's people had nothing to fear. Not only would they not perish, but they would experience abundant fruitfulness.
Notice the metaphor that Isaiah uses. He compares Israel to a husbandless woman who is physically unable to bear children. Throughout the Old Testament, we find the prophets comparing Israel's relationship with God to that of a wife to a husband, especially when calling out Israel for their unfaithfulness. It's as if God had been a faithful husband, but Israel, due to her many forays into immorality and idol worship, was behaving like a serial adulteress. Consequently, God is pictured as finally putting away his adulterous wife and leaving her to her shame and disgrace. Although her covenant with God once had great promise, she now finds herself barren, desolate and with no hope of offspring at all.
But, notice in verse 1 that God makes a promise following the sacrifice of the Servant of the Lord. She who was barren and unmarried would indeed bear children. In fact, more children than any other nation. In other words, he would work so that Israel, now suffering the shame and disgrace of captivity, would one day see their lineage renewed and bring forth abundant peoples.
This, of course, puts us in mind of God's promise to Abraham. Sarah, his wife, was without children and of old age, but the Lord promised her abundant offspring through the miraculous birth of Isaac. Israel, ravaged by captivity, must be wondering where that promise is now. It appears to be another impossible situation. But God says he will fulfill his promise to Abraham and Sarah, his people will be fruitful, and they will inherit the land, even in the face of their impossible circumstances. Despite their rebellion and now their captivity, they will one day be blessed.
So, he says in verse 2:
Isaiah 54:2 "Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes.
Get ready for expansion because you will multiply greatly! Not only this, but according to verse 3, her offspring will receive a global inheritance:
Isaiah 54:3 For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left, and your offspring will possess the nations and will people the desolate cities.
Fruitfulness, expansion, and an inheritance are reasons to sing. But remember, these promises are the product of the sacrificial death of Jesus, which was foretold in the previous chapter. How, then, does Jesus' death on the cross result in fruitfulness, expansion, and an inheritance for rebellious people? And is this promise to Jews only?
We'll take the latter question first. These promises, and the further promises we are about to see, are not for Jews only. In fact, they are not even for all Jews. These promises are for everyone who places their faith in Jesus Christ, the Servant of the Lord who made them all possible through his sacrificial death.
Verse 17 helps us. In it, Isaiah indicates just who will benefit from the awesome blessings secured by the sacrificial death of the servant of the Lord. He says…
Isaiah 54:17 … This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their vindication from me, declares the LORD."
And do you know what the very next verse in chapter 55 says?
Isaiah 55:1-3 ¶ "Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread and your labour for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. 3 Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.
These promises are for everyone who sees their need for Jesus. These are those whom Isaiah describes as "the servants of the LORD." So, that includes you and I, present day, if we have come to God through Jesus.
But then, what about this idea of fruitfulness and expansion and inheritance? Is this talking about having lots of kids? No. Paul quotes Isaiah 54:1 in his letter to the Gentile believers in the region of Galatia and says:
Galatians 4:27-28 For it is written, "Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labour! For the children of the desolate one will be more than those of the one who has a husband." 28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.
What is he saying? He says that everyone, Jew or Gentile, who is a follower of Jesus is a spiritual descendant of Abraham. Everyone who believes is one of these "children of promise."
Galatians 3:7-9 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "In you shall all the nations be blessed." 9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
So, to summarize, Isaiah is looking forward to the day when the Servant of the Lord would give himself for the sins of his people. By paying the penalty for your sins and my sins, he has made salvation possible for all who believe – even for those who were once rebels. It is in this way that spiritual children will be multiplied. When you believe in Jesus by faith, you are added to the ranks of millions of others who have chosen to follow him (by God's grace).
Although Israel, the people of God, were on the brink while in captivity to the Babylonians, extinction was never a real possibility. God had a plan to multiply his people through the death of the Servant of the Lord. And 600 years after these promises, Jesus came and did just that. He opened the way of salvation so that all who believed in him might be added as children to God's miracle family.
So, that's the first reason to sing. Through the death of Jesus Christ, you and I have been added to God's family, and this family will continue to grow and grow until it eventually inherits the earth.
Two Metaphors - A Deserted Wife and a Devastated City
Now, let's look at another reason why we ought to sing. Look in verses 4 and 5:
Isaiah 54:5 "Fear not, for you will not be ashamed; be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more.
A Deserted Wife Regathered
Here, Isaiah focuses directly on the shame and disgrace that Israel was experiencing in captivity. They had every spiritual privilege as God's people, yet they squandered them. The God of creation promised to be their God, to give them a promised land and to bless them forever. Yet, they were perpetually unfaithful to him. Consequently, they lost it all. They were a disgrace in the eyes of the surrounding nations. A people who couldn't keep their land, whose God had forsaken them, and who were now subjugated by others. Shame, disgrace, and reproach.
But God gives a promise through Isaiah. The day was coming when they would not be ashamed, confounded, or disgraced. In fact, so great would be the blessings of that day that they would entirely forget about their former shame. How so? Remember last week? Remember the previous chapter? Through the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus Christ, God's justice toward the sinfulness of men would be fully satisfied. Through Jesus, forgiveness would be made possible. Those who were once lost in their sin would be made righteous.
Isaiah 53:11 Out of the anguish of his soul, he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.
Those who were once overcome by their shame and disgrace would be given reason to sing! Those who were once alienated from God would be reconciled with him and would benefit from an astounding relationship with him. Look at how this relationship is described in verse 5:
Isaiah 54:5 For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called.
Let's take these phrases one by one:
For your Maker is your husband
"Your Maker." That is, he knows everything about you. He made you. Not just mankind in general, but you. He knows your fears and your anxieties. He knows your strengths and your weaknesses. He knows everything about your make-up.
And what does it say? "Your Maker is your husband." That speaks of a loving relationship. He knows everything about you as your Maker and has committed himself to you as your Husband. This speaks of a relationship of covenant love featuring protection, provision, and acceptance.The LORD of Hosts is his name.
"The LORD of hosts" speaks of God's command of the heavenly armies. He can marshal all the forces of heaven to work on your behalf to keep you in a relationship with him.
Not only will those who once suffered shame and disgrace because of their sin now benefit from a relationship with God as their Maker and husband, but they can be confident that God will not allow anything to threaten that relationship.
Then Isaiah says of God:The Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer
"The Holy One of Israel" speaks of both God's transcendence and his immanence. He is "the Holy One" who is above and beyond all; he is wholly other. But he has also given himself to Israel. He is both transcendent, and he is near. He is both above and beyond and has entered into relationship. And why did he come near? It says to redeem.
He paid the price required to purchase a people out from under the captivity of sin and to take them to be his own.
Isaiah continues:The God of the whole earth he is called.
This is the only God. The creator God. The God who is sovereign over all the earth. Those who once suffered shame, disgrace and reproach, being alienated from the God of the whole earth, will now be regarded as his precious people.
Remember, all of this has been made possible how? Through the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus Christ. That's what is foretold in the previous chapter (Isaiah 53). Not only is all of this made possible by Jesus Christ, but when we come to the New Testament, we realize that it is all actually fulfilled by Jesus Christ.
Those who once suffered shame and disgrace due to their sin will enter into a relationship with their Maker, or creator who knows everything about them? Paul wrote to the Christians in Colosse:
Colossians 1:15-16 [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
Those who once suffered shame and disgrace due to their sin will enter into a relationship with God as their loving, protective, providing, and accepting husband? Paul wrote to the Ephesians:
Ephesians 5:25-28 Husbands love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendour, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way, husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
Those who once suffered shame and disgrace due to their sin will enter into a secure relationship with God as the LORD of hosts? One in which they have no fear that anything can separate them from him again?
Romans 8:35-39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, "For your sake, we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." 37 No, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Those who once suffered shame and disgrace due to their sin will benefit from a relationship in which the transcendent God will make himself near in order to redeem them?
Hebrews 1:1-3 ¶ Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
Galatians 4:4-5 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law.
The transcendent one came near for the purpose of redemption.
So, God has looked upon us who have languished under the shame and disgrace of our sins and has had compassion. In his compassion, he has sent Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us so that we might have this incredible relationship with God. Consequently, those who were once overcome by their shame and disgrace now have reason to sing!
Maybe you're here this morning, and you have a past that you are ashamed of. Maybe you've experienced disgrace. Maybe you've suffered the reproach of others. Maybe you still struggle with such grief. Maybe when you dwell on these things, you feel that God is distant or that he has rejected you. If that's you, you will be incredibly helped by what we see next. Isaiah continues with the metaphor of a wife and husband and says:
Isaiah 54:6-10 ¶ For Yahweh has called you like a wife deserted and grieved in spirit, like a wife of youth when she is cast off, says your God. 7 For a brief moment I deserted you, but with great compassion, I will gather you. 8 In overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you," says Yahweh, your Redeemer.
Because of what Jesus, the servant of the Lord, accomplished by dying in our place on the cross, even we, a rebellious people who previously found ourselves distant from God, can be assured that loving compassion has been extended to us. The same holy God who judges sin is also compassionate toward us when we suffer due to our sins. In that compassion, he is moved to remove the sin that offends him and oppresses us.
So, in his compassion, he sent Jesus to die for us in order to atone for our sins. God is now fully satisfied by his sacrifice. Consequently, all who believe in him will receive not condemnation but compassion. Those who were once "cast off" God is now "gathering" to himself (v6,7). In the place of divine anger, there is now everlasting love.
Why sing about what Jesus has accomplished through the cross? Because through his death in our place he has delivered us from shame, disgrace and reproach and has brought us into a relationship with God. A relationship of love, acceptance, protection, and compassion. A relationship in which God has forgiven our sin and assured us that we will never suffer shame or reproach for it again.
But Isaiah isn't done yet. There are even more reasons to burst forth into song when we consider what Jesus, the servant of the Lord, accomplished through his cross. In addition to abundant fruitfulness and intimate relationship, we find in verse 9 that those who believe in Jesus receive eternal security.
The question may pop into your mind, "OK, this all sounds well and good, but Israel once had tremendous privileges, and they lost those things due to their rebellion. Is it not possible that I, after having been redeemed, forgiven and welcomed by God, might also find myself under his judgment once again?" The answer is in verses 9-10. What we find here is that as a result of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, he has ushered in an entirely new arrangement in which the way God interacts with his people has been forever altered.
9 "This is like the days of Noah to me: as I swore that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth, so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you and will not rebuke you.
Here, God is seeking to explain the magnitude of the shift that has taken place as a result of Jesus's sacrifice in our place. He compares that shift to the days of Noah.
In the days of Noah in Genesis 6, God saw that the whole earth had corrupted itself through sin. Consequently, he sent a global judgment in order to cleanse the whole earth. However, after that judgment, he made a promise to Noah:
Genesis 8:20-22 ¶ Then Noah built an altar to Yahweh and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. 21 And when Yahweh smelled the pleasing aroma, Yahweh said in his heart, "I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done. 22 While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease."
The promise, or covenant, is this: as long as human history continues, God will never again flood the earth. Why? Because he recognizes that mankind is sinful by nature. If he were to respond to the sins of mankind with the judgment they rightfully deserve, then all of human history would come to an end. Instead of judging the earth in this way, he would have compassion.
As wonderful as that news is, however, that promise said nothing about the souls of individuals. Yes, he would allow human history to persist despite man's sinfulness, but mankind remained captive to their sin.
But here in Isaiah, God is saying that since the death of Jesus, another monumental shift has taken place. This one, however, focuses on individuals and their salvation. Just like he promised to never again judge the earth through a flood, so now he is making a promise to every individual who returns to him through Jesus. They will never again have to fear divine judgment but can be assured that they have a right standing before God - forever. He says in verse 10:
10 For the mountains may depart, and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed," says Yahweh, who has compassion on you.
God is compassionate toward us, even in our rebellion. So, he has sent Jesus Christ to atone for our sins. Now, he has made a way in which everyone who was once an enemy of God might be welcomed into a covenant of peace. Peace, harmony, and reconciliation are available to sinners. This is what he has produced through Jesus.
Romans 5:6-11 ¶ For while we were still weak, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person, one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Through the death of Jesus, sinners have been reconciled to God.
He says in verse 8 of Isaiah 54 that this love is everlasting. He says in verse 10 that it is steadfast, that it "shall not depart from you," and that it "shall not be removed." Through Jesus, God has ushered in a new covenant in which those who return to him have absolutely no fear of wrath, judgment, or condemnation.
Those who have experienced shame, affliction, disgrace, and reproach can now be assured that they will receive everlasting love and compassion within the context of a divine covenant which can never be broken. They can be confident that they are eternally secure in their relationship with their loving God.
Isaiah illustrates this security further but with a metaphor shift in verse 11:
Isaiah 54:11-12 ¶ "O afflicted one, storm-tossed and not comforted, behold, I will set your stones in antimony, and lay your foundations with sapphires. 12 I will make your pinnacles of agate, your gates of carbuncles, and all your wall of precious stones.
A Devastated City Rebuilt
He has now shifted from the metaphor of a husband and wife to that of a city. It's as if Israel has been an embattled city which has been devastated by a line of successive enemies. But, the Lord's promise is that this devasted and deserted city would be rebuilt in even greater splendour than it had previously. From the foundations to the pinnacles of its tallest buildings, it would be built with the most precious of stones. Those who were once afflicted will be delivered. Those who were storm-tossed will be secure. Those who were not comforted will find perfect comfort.
Then, notice a very significant statement in verse 13:
Isaiah 54:13 All your children shall be taught by Yahweh, and great shall be the peace of your children.
Keeping with the metaphor of the city, Isaiah says that every single inhabitant of that city will be one who has been personally taught by God himself. Whereas "Israel" was formerly always a mixture of genuine worshippers and unbelievers, the day would come when the people of God would be entirely regenerate. Every member of that community would have a genuine relationship with God. Jeremiah predicted the same thing:
Jeremiah 31:34 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbour and each his brother, saying, 'Know Yahweh,' for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares Yahweh. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more."
Not only will this city of true worshippers be secured against external threats, but it will be secured against internal threats as well. Israel's former cycles of internal corruption leading to judgment will be over once and for all. Every person counted among the people of God will be genuinely saved, a genuine worshipper with a genuine relationship with God. How can we be sure? Because everyone who comes to God for reconciliation will have first been taught directly by him.
It's in this way that those who have experienced shame, affliction, disgrace, and reproach can now be assured that they will receive everlasting love and compassion within the context of a divine covenant which can never be broken. They can be confident that they are eternally secure in their relationship with their loving God. According to Isaiah in verse 1, all of this is reason to break forth into song!
Isaiah further describes the protection that these people will receive from the Lord (continuing the city metaphor) in verses 14-17.
Isaiah 54:14-17 In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you. 15 If anyone stirs up strife, it is not from me; whoever stirs up strife with you shall fall because of you. 16 Behold, I have created the smith who blows the fire of coals and produces a weapon for its purpose. I have also created the ravager to destroy; 17 no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment…
These verses would have been a special comfort to Israel at this time. They had experienced God's judgment against their rebellion through the Babylonian captivity. God now assures them he is going to usher forth an entirely new paradigm in which they will never again have to fear that any trouble or strife is a sign of God's judgment against them – "if anyone stirs up strife, it is not from me," he says. Further, if anyone were to dare to stir up such strife, God would move in to protect them.
An Open Invitation
Then, to conclude the entire song, Isaiah says this in the latter portion of verse 17:
Isaiah 54:17… This is the heritage of the servants of Yahweh and their vindication from me, declares Yahweh."
So, to whom does all of this apply? Who is it that is able to burst forth in song because of all of these things? "the servants of Yahweh." This is their heritage.
Now, my question to you this morning is this – are you one of these "servants of the LORD?" Are you one who has been delivered from your shame and disgrace and has been brought into a relationship with God as your Maker and redeemer? Are you one who has found peace and reconciliation with God? Are you one who can say that you are eternally secure within an intimate relationship with God?
Yes? Wonderful, sing about all the awesome benefits he has given you! No? Why not? The invitation is open for you this morning. Look at Isaiah 55:1:
Isaiah 55:1 ¶ "Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
That is an open invitation. Come! The only condition is that you know you have a need. You don't drink water unless you're thirsty. You don't eat unless you're hungry. He's saying, admit your need for relationship with God and come!
He even implores you in verse 2:
Isaiah 55:2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which does not satisfy?...
Why are you going to spend your life pursuing things that don't really satisfy? Why are you going to work for things that don't bring real fulfillment? Instead, come to God. Respond to his invitation. He says:
…Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.
He continues the appeal in verse 3:
Isaiah 55:3 Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.
"Listen," "hear," "come." Look after your soul – "that your soul may live." And what will happen? "I will make with you an everlasting covenant." That's that covenant of peace. Eternal, unshakeable, perfectly secure covenant in which you know that you have perfect peace with God. It's like the covenant he made with David (Ps 89) in which he promised never to remove his steadfast love or faithfulness from him. This is an invitation for you.
Jesus Issues the Invitation - John 6
Now, you may be here this morning, and you're not very familiar with scripture, and this seems very strange to you. I mean, here we are in an Old Testament book that seems a bit obscure. Metaphors about a husband and wife, and a city encrusted with jewels and so on. How can you be sure that these chapters really are talking about personal salvation and really are an invitation for you to come to God? Would it help if you heard the same invitation on the lips of Jesus in the New Testament?
Turn to John 6. John is the fourth gospel recording the life and death of Jesus Christ and was written many hundreds of years after Isaiah.
In John 6, we find Jesus speaking to a massive crowd that is following him. They had been following him, hoping to receive free food. He says to them:
John 6:27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him, God the Father has set his seal."
Well, what does that sound like? It sounds just like Isaiah:
Isaiah 55:2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.
Isaiah said, don't put all your efforts into pursuing things that don't satisfy. Jesus says do not put all your effort into pursuing food that doesn't satisfy. This is not a mere coincidence. What we find is that Jesus in John 6 is actually issuing forth the invitation that Isaiah looked forward to in Isaiah 55.
Isaiah said in Isaiah 55:1:
Isaiah 55:1 ¶ "Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
Did Jesus say something similar in John 6? Yes, and more than that. He issues the same invitation but also makes the explicit claim that this satisfaction comes to those who believe in him:
John 6:35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.
The abundant fruitfulness, intimate relationship, and eternal security which Isaiah prompted us to sing about in Isaiah 54 are all provided by Jesus Christ, and here he is issuing an open invitation for anyone to come and receive it.
But we're not done yet. The connections become even clearer. Remember the two metaphors from Isaiah? First, he compared Israel in captivity to a barren and cast-off wife and then to a devastated city. He said that through the substitutionary sacrifice of the servant of the Lord, these things would be righted. The cast-off wife would be gathered once again with her husband, the formerly rebellious city would be rebuilt in splendour, and all its inhabitants would be genuine worshippers.
Well, look at what Jesus says in John 6:37:
John 6:37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.
In Isaiah 54, the promise was that the unfaithful wife who was experiencing shame, disgrace and reproach as a result of her unfaithfulness would be welcomed back to God, where she would benefit from an everlasting covenant of peace. Never again would she have to fear being cast aside again. Remember what the Lord said about this being like the "days of Noah?" There would be no further fear of divine judgment against sin for those who come to him.
Here, Jesus, the servant of the Lord, has finally come, and while anticipating his coming substitutionary sacrifice, he issues this same invitation. "Come to me!" and "Whoever comes to me, I will never cast out."
Is this really what's going on here in John 6? Is Jesus really fulfilling what Isaiah prophesied of hundreds of years earlier? Is Jesus really ushering in the covenant of peace that God foretold of in Isaiah 54? Is he really issuing forth the invitation that is promised in Isaiah 55? You'll be fully convinced by what we see next in John 6.
As Jesus was inviting the crowds to come to him to receive full satisfaction and presenting himself as the bread of life, sent by the Father to give life to the world, many became angry. They began to grumble among themselves. Look at Jesus response in John 6:43-45:
John 6:43-45 Jesus answered them, "Do not grumble among yourselves. 44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets, 'And they will all be taught by God.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me—
In answering his critics, who would refuse to come to him to receive eternal life, he states that no one can come to him unless the Father first draws them. He then quotes from one of the prophets. And where is this quotation from? Isaiah 54:13.
Isaiah 54:13 All your children shall be taught by Yahweh, and great shall be the peace of your children.
Having already tapped into Isaiah's metaphor of the regathered wife, Jesus is now tapping into the second metaphor of the rebuilt city. What we find is that Jesus is the one gathering the bride, and he is also the one rebuilding the city, and both the bride and the city represent his followers – the church.
Conclusion
Jesus is the Servant of the Lord in Isaiah 53, who gave his life for the sins of the world (1 John 2:2). He is the one who satisfied God's judgment toward your sin and my sin.
He is also the one in Isaiah 54 who has ushered in abundant fruitfulness for the people of God as multitudes continue to come to him to be saved, building that beautiful city, the church.
He is the one who invites us to intimate relationship by delivering us from shame, disgrace and reproach like a loving husband who has compassion upon his unfaithful wife.
He is the one who offers us eternal security by ushering in an everlasting covenant of peace in which all can be reconciled to God without fear of facing divine judgment ever again.
He is also the one in Isaiah 55 issuing the open invitation to all to come to him. We see him issuing the same invitation in John 6. He is saying:
Come to me and find satisfaction for your soul.
Come to me, and I will never cast you out.
Come to me and I will raise you up on the last day.
Come to me and receive eternal life.
Let's close with his words in John 6:35-40:
John 6:35-40 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day."
