Seeing the Connections between the Old and New Testaments

                        What the Bible says is important.

                         The connection between on part of the Bible to another part is important.

                         Connections between the Old Testament and Jesus are especially important.

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   Prophecy, foreshadowing, symbols and the development of spirituality 

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          Especially in Isaiah we can find many connections to Jesus, and the New Testament.  Let us consider a few of these. 

The Servant of the Lord in Isaiah

         What does it mean to be the people of God?  Is it a call to special blessings?  Is it a blessing upon our little tribe or twelve tribes?  Or is it a call to service of world wide scope?  Second Isaiah addresses these questions in his Servant Psalms.  These psalms within the book of Isaiah show a growing insight into what it means to be the people of God. 

        In your Bible read Isaiah 41: 8 and Isaiah 44: 1 -5.  Who is the Servant of the Lord in these Scriptures?

  And what is the servant to do in Isaiah 42: 1 - 9?

       Now the plot thickens with a shocking idea from Isaiah.  Could the servant of the Lord be a gentile (a non-jewish person?)  See Isaiah 44: 22 and read through to Isaiah 45: 4.  Who is the Servant of the Lord?
Please note, there are two different answers!

      Now read Isaiah 52: 13 through to Isaiah 53: 12.  In this Scripture who is the Servant of the Lord?
What does the servant accomplish?  Why is that important to us today?  Do you see any irony or paradox in this prophecy?

Consider the teachings of Jesus

     what did Jesus say about leadership and service?  Is that practiced today by you, or political leaders, or by the church?  

     why did Jesus wash the feet of the disciples before the Last Supper?