If while sitting at home, you hear a knock on the door, and ask, who it is, the answer comes back: "this is the police, open up in the name of the law," what would you do? One thing I believe you should do is ask for identification.- for their credentials. When you go to the doctor, what is hanging on his wall? His credentials displaying the schooling and training he received to become a practicing physician. Would you make sure of his credentials before placing the health and life of your family in his hands? Of course. So, we see that credentials can tell us something about the person in question. What does the word mean? "Anything that provides the basis for confidence, belief...evidence of authority; status, rights, entitlement to privileges." (Random House College Dictionary)

If you're trying to teach someone about the need for Christ in his/her life, and that person asks you: "Why should I believe that Christ is God's Son, and why do I need Him in my life, how would you answer? Many answers could be given, but how about showing them the credentials of Jesus Christ? We are going to use Isaiah 53 as proof of His credentials.

HIS ACQUAINTANCE WITH GRIEF. "He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted."{Isaiah 53:3,4} Notice the future events written of in verse 2, as though they had already taken place. Christ would not come with pomp and majesty. Nothing about His physical makeup would attract men to His side. A carpenter's son, out of despised Nazareth. His greatest attraction would be His spiritual beauty and the powerful message He would give to man. How was He received? "He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him."{John 1:11} He was rejected by His own, by the religious leaders of the day, but accepted gladly by the common people. Sadly, He was well acquainted with grief, both physical and mental anguish of heart. "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!"{Matthew 23:37} Man was so wrapped up in his sin he could not see the beauty of the things Jesus offered. We are told that He went about doing good. (Acts 10:38) What did He receive in return? "So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house."{Matthew 13:57} Men could have seen His beauty, but they willfully hid their faces from Him. Isaiah's prophecy proved to true.

SERVANT'S SUFFERINGS. "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all."{Isaiah 53:5,6} He suffered greatly, not for His own sins, but for OURS! This servant willingly took upon Himself the infirmities and burdens of sins. "Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed."{1 Peter 2:24} Jesus, while here on earth, did much healing of mankind's physical ailments. Yet, this was nothing compared to the spiritual healing He provided through His death! Instead of understanding that He was suffering because of the world's sins, men believed He was suffering for His own! "And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise the chief priests also, mocking with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him. He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, 'I am the Son of God."{Matthew 27:39-43} He suffered by...thorns (Matthew 27:39); by nails (Psalm 22:16); and the soldier's spear (John 19:34); He was bruised and crushed (John 19:37); and He suffered intense pain on the cross (Matthew 27:33-50). Through His death, He made peace for all of mankind (Ephesians 2:14-16). He bore the shame and the punishment for our sins. God laid the sin of the whole world on His shoulders. "And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world."{1 John 2;2} This servant suffered all these things willingly. Out of love for His Father and love for us. Was greater love ever expressed?

TOTAL SUBMISSION OF THE SERVANT. "He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment, And who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken."{Isaiah 53:7,8} Did our Lord offer and mount a defense to the false charges brought against Him? "And went again into the Praetorium, and said to Jesus, "Where are You from?" But Jesus gave him no answer. Then Pilate said to Him, "Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?"{John 19:9,10} The people saw Him as a blasphemer worthy of death. He could have called twelve legions of angles to rescue Him. He did not. Why? Total submission to His Father's will and our hope for redemption!

VICTORY AND REWARD. "...He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand. He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great..."{Isaiah 53:10-12} His death provided the means for our redemption. This Son went to the Father and offered His own blood as payment for our sins. God accepted it. By our obedience, receive grace and mercy from God. Now we have presented His credentials. Do you accept them or reject them as fraudulent? The eunuch also wondered about this passage. He understood that Isaiah was talking about Christ. Do you?