His Death for Our Life

Who is the Suffering Servant? (Vss 52:13-53:1-3)

If you walked the streets of Jerusalem and asked an ethnic Jew, “Who is the Suffering Servant?” The vast majority would have no clue what you are talking about. Today in Israel, somewhere around 98% are not religious. Though they may practice some of the traditions and holiday’s of Judaism, they do not even consider themselves a religious follower of God and do not read the Old Testament. Jewish by ethnicity, not by religion.

For example, Ally and I had the privilege of traveling to Israel this past March. Our tour guide was an ethnic Jewish woman, Michal. She was very intelligent and well aware of what we protestant Christians believe about Jesus as the Messiah. One night, we got back to the hotel that looked over the Sea of Galilee and we asked Michal about her faith. She said she celebrates all of the holiday’s and events, but is not a practicing Jew. For example, every Friday night she would take part in her family’s shabbat dinner, something that they do in Israel every Friday night. It is a very detailed and structured ceremonial meal with readings from the Old Testament books of the Law, the Torah, eating bread and singing chants to God in Hebrew.

Many like Michal observe these holidays and events, but do not consider themselves religious and do not read the Hebrew Bible.

So back to our question about “who is this suffering servant?”

The vast majority of Jewish people will have no clue who or what you are talking about. But some Jews claim that the Suffering Servant is the nation of Israel.

They reject the idea that this is the true Messiah, Jesus. They reject the idea that this is a future coming Messiah. Instead, these people look at their long history of suffering and claim this is referring to their own painful past. The Jewish people have been viewed as the scum of the earth for a long time. They would say that verse 3 is talking about the way the world treats Jews.

“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one form whom men hide their faces. He was despised, and we esteemed him not.” (53:3)

They would say that the holocaust, for example, proves they are the suffering servants of YHWH. Throughout history, people have despised Jews and rejected Jews, so, this must be talking about them!

I think as we work our way through this passage we will find that this is an absurd statement that the Bible does not teach. The Bible as a whole points to Christ’s life, death, resurrection, and everlasting reign. The atonement that Jesus accomplished is the focus of Scripture.

Let’s turn to the text and quickly go through a few characteristics that help us figure out who this suffering servant is.

Starting in 52:13 God says that his “servant shall act wisely; he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted.”

Here, Isaiah begins with the ending. He tells us the outcome before telling us what will occur. We learn that this servant is not a servant of man, but of God. To be a servant of God means that God has chosen you to be used as a vessel to accomplish something that he has planned.

God’s servant will act wisely, or have understanding. He will not fail or sin. He will be a wise servant who acts according to the will of his master. Even through the suffering that he is headed for, he will be wise and faithful. Because of this obedience, we read next:

He will be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted. Who shall be exalted but God? The Bible is clear that only God will be high and lifted up, exalted above everything.

Psalm 57:11 says “Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth!”

So, something is special about this servant. Though he suffers, he not only will act wisely and will not only persevere through the suffering, but he will be high and lifted up, exalted and praised. Sounds a lot like the glorified and magnified Jesus, doesn’t it?

52:14-53:3 switches gears to bring us back to the beginning of this suffering servants life on earth. He may be exalted and lifted up in the future, but here we read that he was reject in the past.

His appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance: meaning literally beyond human form, He was so marred that he was hard to even recognize.

As Christians, we must recognize that the Suffering Servant that Isaiah wrote about in the 700s BC, is Jesus Christ the Son of God who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, who lived a perfect life, was crucified, dead, buried, and rose to life after three days, and who ascended into heaven, awaiting his return for his children who will live forever with him.

Isaiah 53 teaches these truths to us. John MacArthur, the 50 plus year pastor of Grace Community Church in California, says that Isaiah 53 teaches more about the essential points of the gospel than many New Testament passages. This is not a slam on the New Testament. It is a fact that shows the writers of the Old Testament looked forward to a coming servant, a coming Messiah, a coming King who would die for them and would cast away their sins as far as the east is from the west and who would give them hope of everlasting security with him.

How Does His Death Give Us Life?

Raise your hand if you have heard of The Chronicles of Narnia? Now your hand raised if you read the books? Now raise your hand if you only watched the movies? Now, raise your hand if you both read the books and watched the movies?

Think back in the story to when the Witch intends to kill Edmund for his betrayal. He told the Witch exactly where is brother and sister were. He was now going to be held responsible for his failings.

BUT… Aslan, the majestic and mighty Lion, chose to lay down his life for his friend Edmund. Even though the Witch claimed Edmund as her territory, because of his rebellion, Aslan offered himself as a sacrifice for Edmund.

You see, this is what Jesus