The Way Speaks

On the blank pages in the back of my Bible I keep a running list of key verses which emphasise the deity of Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and verses which confirm the Trinity.  Though the Bible does not employ the word "trinity," throughout scripture the doctrine of the Triune Godhead shines forth.  I recently came across a couple of great verses which I added to the list from the book of Isaiah.

Through the prophet Isaiah, the God who spoke from the beginning addressed the children of Israel.  Isaiah 48:16-17 reads, "Come near to Me, hear this: I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, I was there. And now the Lord GOD and His Spirit have sent Me." ¹⁷ Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you by the way you should go."  It is evident the prophet Isaiah is not speaking for himself, for he could not claim to be "from the beginning," nor was he the promised "Redeemer."

Speaking of the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us, Jesus Christ, the apostle wrote in John 1:1-2, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God."  In Isaiah 48:16, the Speaker identifies Himself as being separate from the "Lord GOD" and His "Spirit."  Based upon this and other places in scripture, it is clear the One speaking is none other than the self-existent and preincarnate Christ, the Son of man and Son of God.  Jesus was sent by the Father to be the Saviour of the world (1 John 4:14).  Jesus is the Holy One of Israel and also the Redeemer (1 Corinthians 1:30-31; Ephesians 1:7).

What the LORD says here is telling as well:  "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you by the way you should go."  Jesus prayed the Father to send the Holy Spirit who would guide all Christ's followers into truth (John 16:13).  All Jesus tells the Holy Spirit He is faithful to proclaim.  Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6).  He also calls Himself the "Good Shepherd" who lays down His life for His sheep and even for sheep not of His fold which He has called - both Jew and Gentile.  Jesus leads us in the way we should go, setting an example of love, humility, obedience, service, and meekness all His disciples ought to follow.

Jesus said, "Come near to Me" in Isaiah, and He said in John 6:35-38, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who 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 the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. ³⁸ For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me."  Jesus cried out similar words in John 7:37-38:  "On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. ³⁸ He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."  Do you believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God?  The Way still speaks and saves all who believe!