ISAIAH 53

A picture of the lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world.

Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?

Certainly not the Jewish people today for they believe the servant of Isaiah 52:13 refers to them, to the Jewish race.  They do not believe Isaiah’s report as referring to Messiah nor do they understand the universality and totality of the Lord’s salvation as seen in Isaiah 52:10… “The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.”

Isaiah goes on to say of the LORD’s servant that he shall grow as a fresh shoot (from the remains of a majestic yet fallen tree), a root out of the dry ground of a fallen Kingdom.  There will be nothing spectacular about his appearing, and nothing commanding about his appearance; nothing that would attract men to his side.  In fact he would be despised and rejected by men because of his lowly and inconspicuous birth.

Yet for all this he would take upon himself the grief and sorrows of mankind, some of whom considered his judgment and death to be deserved, who considered his death to be God’s judgments.  But the fact of the matter was that he was wounded for our lawlessness, he was bruised for our perverse doings, and the punishment that brought about our peace was poured upon him; and by the afflictions he bore we are made whole.

Isaiah is speaking particularly to Israel but his gospel includes all men, for all the earth would see the salvation of God in his ‘servant’ (Isaiah 52:10).  All Israel were like sheep that had gone astray yet no one is exempt from this condemnation, and because of this the LORD laid on his servant the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed and depressed, subjugated and deserted but offered no protest even though he was to be slaughtered like a sacrificial lamb; He was summarily taken from detention without due process of law leaving nothing but memories.  He was ‘cut off’ divided from Israel by death, but as theirs and our substitute.

In his grave he was reckoned with sinners and placed with the rich in his death yet he had done nothing deserving of such an end; yet it was the LORD’s will, for in this great abuse his soul was made an offering for sin and as a result he would have a posterity of his own, a posterity according to Jehovah’s design, and one he would see and would enjoy.  It would be by knowledge of him and his death that many would be justified, because he took upon himself their iniquities.

Therefore the LORD would apportion him a great spoil, which he in turn would divide with the many who are benefitted by his sacrifice and with whom he was counted, and for whom he makes intercession.

Isaiah 53 is a clear representation of the gospel of Christ for it is a prophetic word regarding Messiah as the servant of Jehovah, suffering for the sins, not only of the children of Israel, but for the sins of the whole world.

Those of us who have and do experience the peace and joy of this salvation should pray for those who are blinded by religious tradition and/or unbelief.  Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, a peace that will only come when the Prince of peace is welcomed back as Saviour, as King of kings and Lord of lords.