What does "by His knowledge" in Isaiah 53:11 mean for believers today? Setting the Scene Isaiah 53:11: “After He has suffered, He will see the light of life and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities.” Examining the Phrase “by His knowledge” • “Knowledge” here is not abstract information; it is personal, experiential understanding. • The Hebrew word (daʿat) often describes intimate, firsthand familiarity (e.g., Genesis 4:1). • Isaiah ties this deep, personal knowledge to the Servant’s work of justification. How the Servant’s Knowledge Operates 1. He knows the Father’s will perfectly (John 8:29). 2. He knows humanity from the inside, having taken on flesh (Hebrews 2:14 – 17). 3. He knows sin’s weight because He bore it (2 Corinthians 5:21). 4. He knows each believer individually (John 10:14). Old Testament Context • Priests needed firsthand knowledge of sacrifices; the Servant exceeds them by bearing the sacrifice Himself (Leviticus 16). • Isaiah 11:2 shows the Spirit of “knowledge” resting on the coming Messiah, preparing Him for redemptive work. New Testament Echoes • Philippians 3:8-10: Paul longs to “know Him,” linking knowledge of Christ to righteousness by faith. • 1 John 2:3: “By this we can be sure that we have come to know Him: if we keep His commandments.” • John 17:3: “Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.” What This Means for Us Today • Justification flows from Christ’s perfect, experiential knowledge—not our efforts. • Our own salvation rests on being known by Him (Galatians 4:9). • Growing in Christ is growing in personal knowledge of Him (2 Peter 3:18). Living It Out - Spend time in the Gospels to see how Jesus interacts, feels, and thinks; let His knowledge shape your worldview. - Confess sins quickly, trusting that the One who “knows” sin’s cost has already borne it (1 John 1:9). - Cultivate dependence on the Spirit, who reveals “the deep things of God” (1 Corinthians 2:10). Key Takeaways • “By His knowledge” highlights Christ’s unique, firsthand grasp of both God’s holiness and our need. • That knowledge empowered His atoning work and now secures our justification. • Believers respond by pursuing deeper relational knowledge of the One who fully knows—and saves—them. |
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