As a Lamb
In the manual: Come, Follow Me lesson 41, “He Hath Borne Our Griefs, and Carried Our Sorrows,” on Gospel Library
Start
On a desert road south of Jerusalem, a traveler from Ethiopia sat in his chariot reading Isaiah 53 aloud. He could not tell who it was about (Acts 8:26–34).
Read Together
He was the treasurer of the queen of Ethiopia, on his way home from worshiping in Jerusalem. The Spirit sent Philip, a leader in the early Church, to run beside the chariot. Philip “began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus” (Acts 8:35).
7He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. 8He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. 9And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
12Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
What It Teaches
The traveler was reading verse 7. A lamb stands still for the shearer. When the chief priests accused Jesus, and again when Pilate questioned him, he answered nothing, and Pilate marveled (Matthew 27:12–14). He had the power to stop it all, and he chose to stay silent.
Verse 9 says he would be “with the rich in his death.” Jesus was buried in the new tomb of a rich disciple, Joseph of Arimathea (Matthew 27:57–60).
Verse 10 promises that “he shall see his seed.” Abinadi explained that his seed are the people who listen to the prophets and trust him to take away their sins (Mosiah 15:10–11). When we follow him, we become his family.
The chapter ends by saying he “made intercession for the transgressors.” To make intercession is to plead for someone. On the cross, Jesus prayed for the people who crucified him, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).
Talk About It
The traveler said he could not understand without someone to guide him (Acts 8:31). Who has helped you understand the scriptures, and who could you help?
Take to Church
When the traveler asked who Isaiah 53 was about, Philip began at that same verse and taught him about Jesus.