Isaiah 42 does not talk about Jesus if you read with a broad mind, because KJV says.  “and the isles shall wait for his law.”  But the truth is Jesus did not bring new laws for Jews and he never nullified the laws of the Torah. Paul, who never met Jesus, distorted the true teachings of Jesus.  Also, Isaiah says  “Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar do inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing”  but why would Arabs and nearby people shout for the Jewish Messiah? Arabia was never a Christian-dominated area?

I think you just insulted me, calling people like me narrow-minded.  I will immediately forgive you for insulting me.  Let us look at some of the messianic prophecy in Isaiah 42.

“Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight.  I will put my Spirit in him, and he will bring justice to the nations.  He will not shout out or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.  In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on the earth.  In his teaching the islands will put their hope….  I will keep you and will make you a covenant for the people and a light to the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from teh dungeon those who sit in darkness.  (Isaiah 42:1-7)

If this passage is not about Jesus, and about the Messiah, then what is it about?  The Jews themselves considered this a messianic prophecy, even before Jesus was born!  It is only God’s Messiah who can bring justice to the nations (verse 3).  It is only the Messiah who can create a New Covenant (verse 6).  It is only the Messiah who will be “a light to the Gentiles.”  It is absolutely obvious that this prophecy is not only messianic, but that it is talking about Jesus.  Who else might it be talking about? What other Jewish person became a light to the Gentiles, created a new covenant and brought justice to the nations?

At the same time, Jesus was incredibly gentle.  He did not raise his voice in the streets (verse 2).  That is why Matthew pointed out that Jesus fulfilled this messianic prophecy in Matthew 12:17-21.  Again, if Isaiah 42 is not talking about Jesus, then who is it talking about?  And it is Paul in Acts 13:47 who points out that Jesus fulfilled the messianic prophecy in Isaiah 42:7 that the Messiah will be a light to the Gentiles.

Jesus brought many new “laws” to the Jews.  In fact, he brought an entirely new covenant, as Muhammad himself noted in the Qur’an!  He did not nullify the laws of the Torah.  In fact, he obeyed the Law of Moses throughout his life.  You say that Paul distorted the teachings of Jesus.  Unless you have an actual example, this is an empty and meaningless statement of mere rhetoric.  How can I respond to such a charge unless you are willing to give an example?  Many Arabs shouted for joy at the words of Jesus, as history tells us.  They should, because, like Peter said, “There is no other name under heaven given to man by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12).  Jesus came and gave his life for the sins of the whole world, including the Arab world, which is great cause for rejoicing.

John Oakes