100 Reasons to Believe New Testament History
92. Isaiah 53
This portion of scripture, written approximately 700 before the birth of Christ, clearly describes a man of sorrows, who would be rejected of men, and on whom the sins of the world would be placed. The parallels between the suffering servant described in Isaiah 53 and the life of Jesus as documented in the New Testament are truly astounding A:
The Virgin Birth:
v. 2 “He shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground.”
Matthew 1:20 “But while he thought on these things, behold, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.”
Rejected by men:
v.3 “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised and esteemed him not.”
John 1:11 “He came unto his own and his own received him not.”
The bearer of our sins:
v.6 “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid in him the iniquity of us all”
Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
Silent before his accusers:
v.7 “He 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 his shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth.”
Matthew 27:13 “Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.”
Would be killed:
v. 8 “He 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.”
Mark 15:44-45 “And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead. And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body [of Jesus] to Joseph.”
Resurrection from the Dead:
v.10 “Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.”
Mark 16:9 “Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.”Would die with wicked men:
v. 12 “Therefore I will 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…”
Matthew 27:38 “Then there were two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand and another on the left.”
Would make intercession for the wicked at his death:
v.12 “…and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and he made intercession for the transgressors.”
Luke 23:33-34 “And when they were come the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and another on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”
92. Isaiah 53 - Notes and References
A. Many Jewish folks remain unconvinced despite the strong parallels. Their chief argument is usually that the servant of Isaiah 53 refers to the nation of Israel. This cannot be for the following reasons:
a. 52:14, which leads into the text of chapter 53, describes the servant as one whose “visage was marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men.”
b. Note the pronouns: “We esteemed him not” (v.3). He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities…(v.5).
c. In v. 7, the servant is said to be silent, like a lamb to the slaughter. Some contest that Jesus was not silent, but spoke to His captors. The text, however, simply predicts that he would not protest to His being tried and condemned unjustly. Jesus certainly did not protest. The Jewish nation, on the other hand, have always protested (and rightly so) injustice inflicted upon them.
d. In v. 11 He is referred to as the “righteous servant.” This cannot refer to Israel because in Isaiah 1:4-6, God rebukes the nation for being a “sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corruptors:”
e. Some argue that this cannot refer to Jesus because in v.10 the servant is predicted to see his seed (Zerah). Some contend that this must refer to physical offspring, and since Jesus had no children, he must be disqualified as a possible candidate for the servant of Isaiah 53. However, Isaiah 57:3-4 is clear that zerah can refer to spiritual, or symbolic offspring. Verse 4 reads, “Against whom do ye sport yourselves? Against whom make ye a wise mouth, and draw out the tongue? Are ye not children of transgression, a seed (zerah) of falsehood?”