More understanding!

I am excited at things that I've been picking up in my Bible reading. The passage I quoted in yesterday's blog, Isaiah 53, I realized long after I'd written the post that the reference to Christ there is "But he was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped, and we were healed! (Isaiah 53:5). I just realized that is written in the past tense. Isaiah was written well before Christ's birth, and he was prophesying about Him in the past tense! Meaning, Isaiah knew that God meant what He was telling him. To Isaiah, though he would never see this happen, it was good as if it had already happened. Wow! (Of course, maybe the fact that God was telling him this made it easier to believe-then again, there have been disobedient, unbelieving prophets before....I'll let you decide.)
I'm joyful because God has been opening my eyes to these things. Although this shouldn't surprise me for Jesus said in Mark 4:

Everything that is now hidden or secret will eventually be brought to light. Anyone who is willing to hear should listen and understand! And be sure to pay attention to what you hear. The more you do this, the more you will understand--and even more, besides. To those who are open to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But to those who are not listening, even what they have will be taken away from them. (Mark 4: 22-25)

May I be open to your teaching, Lord. May the church be open and listening to you, God. Thank you so much for showing me these things. Amen.