Isaiah 62:11-12

Behold, the Lord hath proclaimed unto the end of the world

Who is this?

(with Isaiah 63:1):--As in God’s immediate dealingswith men we usually see the Son of God most manifest, this passage may fitly represent the glorious appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ whenever He has come forth to vindicate the cause of His people and to overthrow their enemies. This vision will be astoundingly fulfilled in the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The fourteenth and nineteenth Chapter s of the Book of Revelation give us parallel passages to this. The scene before us describes an interposition of the Messiah; the return of the Divinely-appointed Champion from the defeat of His enemies. As it is evidently picture of salvation rather than of damnation; as the main feature in it is that He is mighty to save; as the great and chief element of the whole thing is that the year of His redeemed is come, and that the Warrior’s own arm has brought salvation to His people; I cannot question that this text is applicable to the first coming of Christ. Then He did battle with the hosts of sin and death and hell, and so vanquished them that in His resurrection He returned with the keys of death and hell at HIS girdle. Then was He seen as “mighty to save.”

I. THERE IS A PROCLAMATION (verses 11, 12). The commentators as a whole can see no connection between the sixty-third chapter and the preceding part of the Book of Isaiah; but surely that connection is plain enough to the common reader. In these verses the coming of the Saviour is proclaimed, and in the next chapter that coming is seen in vision, and the evangelical prophet beholds the Saviour so vividly that he is startled, and inquires, “Who is this?’

1. This great announcement tells you that there is a salvation from without. Within your heart there is nothing that can save you. The proclamation is, “Behold, thy salvation cometh.” It comes from a source beyond yourself.

2. It is a salvation which comes through a person. “Thy salvation cometh; behold, His reward is with Him, and His work before Him.” The great salvation which we have to proclaim is salvation by Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

3. This salvation leads to holiness; for the text says of those who receive the Saviour, “They shall call them, The holy people.”

4. It is salvation by, redemption; for it is written that they shall be called “The redeemed of the Lord. In the sacred Scriptures there is no salvation for men except by redemption.

5. This salvation is complete. “Thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken.” See the beginning of it: “Sought out,” See the end of it: “Not forsaken.” You will not begin with God, but God will begin with you. You shall be sought out, and then you will seek Him. He seeks you even now. But suppose the Lord found you, and then left you; you would perish, after all. But it shall not be so; for the same Lord who calls you “Sought out also calls you Not forsaken.” You shall never be forsaken of the grace of God, nor of the God of grace.

II. CONSIDER THE QUESTION, “Who is this that cometh from Edom?” The prophet beholds in vision the Captain of salvation, returning from battle, arrayed like the warriors of whom we read, “the valiant men are in scarlet.” He beholds the majestic march of this mighty Conqueror, and he cries, “Who is this?” When a soul first hears the proclamation of God’s salvation, and then sees Jesus coming to him, he says, “Who is this?”

1. The question in part arises from anxiety, as if he said, “Who is this that espouses my cause? Is He able to save?”

2. The question also indicates ignorance. We do not any of us know our Lord Jesus to the full yet. “Who is this?” is a question we may still put to the sacred oracle. Paul, after he had known Christ fifteen years, yet desired that he might know Him; for His love passeth knowledge.

3. As the sinner looks, and looks again, he cries, “Who is this?” in delighted amazement. Is it indeed the Son of God? Does He intervene to save me? The God whom I offended, does He stoop to fight and rout my sins? It is even He.

4. I think the question is asked, also, by way of adoration. As the soul begins to see Jesus, its anxiety is removed by knowledge, and is replaced by an astonishment which ripens into worship.

5. It appears from the question that the person asking it knows whence the Conqueror came; for it is written, “Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah?” Yes, our Redeemer has returned from death, as said the Psalmist, “Thou wilt not leave My soul in hell, neither wilt Thou suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption”? Next notice that the prophet in vision observes the colour of the Conqueror’s garments. “Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah?” Red is not Christ’s colour; hence the question arises, “Wherefore art Thou red in Thine apparel. Our beloved’s garments are whiter than any fuller can make them. The glory of His purity is such that we say to ourselves, “Red, why, that is the colour of Edom, the adversary! Red, that is the colour of the earth of our manhood. Red is the colour of our scarlet sins. Why is He red? Although the text treats of the blood of His adversaries, yet I would have you devoutly think of our Lord literally as shedding His own blood, for His victory was thus accomplished. The text sets forth the result of that blood-shedding in the overthrow of His enemies and ours; but we cannot separate the effect from the cause. I remember how Rutherford seems to glow and burn when in his prose poetry he talks of “the bonnie red man.”

7. But yet the question comes from one who perceives that the Conqueror is royally arrayed. “This that is glorious in His apparel. The Jesus we have to preach to you is no mean Saviour; He is clothed with glory and honour because of the suffering of death.

8. The question ends with “travelling in the greatness of His strength.” He did not come back from slaughtering our enemies feeble and wounded, but He returned in majestic march, like a victor who would have all men know that his force is irresistible. The earth shook beneath our Lord’s feet on the resurrection morning, for “there was a great earthquake.” The Roman guards became as dead men at His appearing. The Lord Jesus Christ is no petty, puny Saviour. As He travels through the nations it is as a strong man against whom none can stand, mighty to rescue every soul that puts its trust in Him.

III. CONSIDER THE ANSWER. NO one can answer for Jesus: He must speak for Himself. Like the sun, He can only be seen by His own light. He is His own interpreter. Not even the angels could explain the Saviour: they get no further than desiring to look into the things which are in Him. He himself answers the question “Who is this?” The answer which our Lord gives is twofold. He describes Himself--

IV. As a Speaker “I that speak in righteousness.” Is He not the Word? Every word that Christ speaks is true. The Gospel which He proclaims is a just and righteous one, meeting both the claims of God and the demands of conscience.

2. Our Lord also describes Himself as a Saviour. “I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Observe that the word “mighty is joined with His saving, and not with his destroying.” Conclusion: Hearken to the proclamation, “Behold thy salvation cometh.” Jesus can save you, for He is mighty to save! He has saved others like you. He can overthrow, all your enemies. He can do this alone. He is able to save you now. It is a sad wonder that men do not believe in Jesus. (C. H. Spurgeon.)