Isaiah 52:13  – 53:12 contains perhaps the most important prophecy about the Messiah in the Old Testament. It’s also one of the most controversial passages in the Bible. Who is Isaiah talking about in this passage?

Jewish Rabbis have wrestled with this question ever since the first century AD. The earliest rabbis concluded that the passage could only refer to one person, the promised Messiah who would bring salvation.

Later, in medieval times, a prominent rabbi suggested that Isaiah 53 referred to the people of Israel as God’s collective suffering servant. The problem with this belief was that the language describing the Suffering Servant is clearly about an individual man, not a whole nation. Also, the people of Israel are not sinless, nor have they ever borne the iniquities of others in order to save them. They have never been completely cut off from the land of the living, nor been assigned en masse to a grave among the rich. The details of the prophecy just don’t apply to the nation of Israel.

This passage has been removed from the reading of Scripture in many synagogues. Some rabbis say it’s forbidden because Christians have hijacked it and made it about Jesus. Others simply don’t know how to read and interpret it without applying it to Jesus, since he is the only one whose life and death fulfills every detail of Isaiah 53. Nevertheless, countless Jewish people have come to believe in Jesus Christ as their Messiah after studying Isaiah 53.

What Was the Messiah Like?

This passage gives more details about Jesus the man than any other biblical account. None of the Gospels talk about Jesus’ appearance, especially after he was beaten, scourged and crucified, but Isaiah tells us,

“ . . . there were many who were appalled by him – his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness.” Isaiah 52:14

Isaiah also fills us in on what Jesus was like as a child and young man.

“He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him.” Isaiah 53:2

The Son of God grew up on the earth like a tender shoot planted in dry ground. How vulnerable that sounds! How easily his life could have been snuffed out if God the Father hadn’t protected him.

Jesus apparently wasn’t particularly outstanding to look at either. He was ordinary and plain. So it wasn’t his appearance that attracted crowds to Jesus; it was his teaching and the miracles he did that drew thousands and thousands of curious, hurting, and needy people.

Jesus wasn’t wealthy or powerful. He was a joyful man, but he also bore the burden of the sins of the world on his shoulders and that concern was probably etched into his face.

“He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.” Isaiah 53:3-4

It seems that Jesus was an ordinary-looking guy, who looked like he had a lot on his mind.

Why Did Jesus Suffer?

Apart from the horrendous suffering that attended his crucifixion, Jesus was subjected to many other kinds of pain. We think of pain as a consequence of Adam and Eve’s fall and the sins their descendants have committed since then, but Jesus never sinned. Why did he experience pain and suffering?

“Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” Isaiah 53:4-5

Jesus died in our place, paying the penalty for our sins so we could be set free from their consequences. Why did he do this?

Only love can explain it, because we have nothing to give in exchange for our salvation. Jesus died for us because he loves us, not because we could pay him back.

Isaiah 53:8 says “By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested.”

Other translations refer to “his generation” as his descendants and note that he had none. Jesus died without marrying or having children, but Isaiah 53:10-11 says,

“ . . . though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days . . . After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many . . .”

We who have accepted Jesus as our Savior are the generations that descend from him. We are his spiritual offspring and his family. He is satisfied that the sacrifice of his life was worthwhile because through it he was able to give eternal life to billions of people.

The Invitation

What Jesus did on the cross for us is incalculable, it’s value is beyond measure, yet it is free to anyone who asks.

“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight yourself in the richest of fare.” Isaiah 55:1-2

Jesus who is the water, the bread, and the wine of life, gives himself freely to us. We could never afford what he has done for us, and we don’t have to because salvation is a free gift. With the gift of salvation comes a relationship with Jesus himself. He comes to live in our hearts and daily nourishes our souls.

“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.” Isaiah 55:6-7

As soon as we turn to the Lord, he freely pardons us. What grace he has for us!

How Do We Know It’s True?

This plan of salvation doesn’t make sense to us. Why would the most innocent man who ever lived die for all the sinners who ever lived? Why would God give eternal life to people? How do we know it’s true?

First of all, we will never comprehend the mind and motivations of God. His love for us is beyond our capacity to understand.

“‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ says the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’” Isaiah 55:8-9

We know God’s words are true just because he said them. God never uses empty words, he never lies, and his words never fail.

“So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11

God said he would save us through the work of Jesus Christ on the cross and he has done it. Salvation is ours because he said it is . . .  and because we said yes to his offer.

God Chooses the Repentant

The only qualification for entering into a saving relationship with God is knowing how underserving we are and being sorry for our sins. God gladly embraces us when we understand how completely unworthy we are. Humble people are the people God loves to live with the most.

“For this is what the high and exalted One says – he who lives forever, whose name is holy: ‘I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.” Isaiah 57:15

God doesn’t just give us eternal life after we die, he gives us a wonderful quality of life while we are still alive here on earth. He revives our spirits, he lifts our heads, and he enjoys living with us.

“‘Peace, peace, to those far and near,’ says the Lord. ‘And I will heal them.’” Isaiah 57:19

What wonderful gifts we have because Jesus died for us! We have eternal life, but we also have a loving relationship with God in this life. He heals us and gives us his own blessed presence. The invitation to seek the Lord while he may be found is the best invitation we will ever receive.