Isaiah 53:2–12

Bible Studies for Life 
Director, Resource Center for Pastoral Excellence, Samford University

Promised Like No Other

Isaiah 53:2–12

Fabricated facts and questionable data, suspicious sources and outright untruths — it seems these days the challenge of separating fact from fiction is growing ever greater. 

People in whom we place our trust and confidence let us down. Words and actions don’t agree. Promises made are not promises kept. Is it any wonder many of us struggle to avoid becoming skeptics, no longer believing in people and organizations until we are convinced they can be trusted?

The central teaching of the Christian faith is that Jesus Christ is Emmanuel, meaning God with us. What does this mean? On what do Christians base this belief? This unit of lessons explores these questions and invites us to celebrate a prophetic promise made and fulfilled in the life of Jesus.

God prophesied the Messiah would become one of us. (2–3)

Isaiah may be the most quoted Old Testament book. This could be because of messianic passages — promises — Christians identify in the book. We often think of prophetic sayings as foretelling future events. However, prophets were often forth-tellers, known for voicing a stinging “Thus says the Lord” in the presence of unrighteousness. 

Another way of understanding a prophet’s message is the idea of for-telling, or telling on behalf of others. In striking and obvious ways the messianic sayings recorded in Isaiah were for-telling, hopeful words told for the benefit of others. Christians understand these words were fulfilled in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

Yet the prophetic words seem unbelievable. Who could imagine a Messiah like this? Surely the Messiah would not go unnoticed, would not be rejected, would not be considered unclean and untouchable. Sadly such was the case when Jesus walked and talked as flesh and blood, the fulfillment of Isaiah’s messianic, hopeful for-telling. 

Ours is the task of living like Jesus today so others notice and choose to live as Jesus did rather than reject Him.

God prophesied the Messiah would suffer for us. (4–9)

Isaiah 53 is 1 of 4 “servant songs” found in the book (42:1–4; 49:1–6; 50:4–9; 52:13–53:12). The songs describe the servant (Isa. 42:1) whom God chose to bring justice to the nations and lead people back to God. The servant would be a “light” so that all could see God’s saving power. 

Verses 4–9 describe the servant as one who suffers for the sake of others. The “suffering servant” bears the sickness (grief) and sorrows (pain) of others — afflictions that come as a result of sin. The servant knows full well the needy situation of sinful people. 

Several years ago one of our presidents used an expression to show empathy for the plight of a concerned citizen whose opinion was being ignored. Almost overnight, “I feel your pain” became a popular saying among both his critics and his fans. Though still spoken there is usually little sincerity implied. It is just a cliché. Not so when applied to Jesus, the fulfillment of prophetic Isaiah’s suffering servant who truly “feels our pain.”

God prophesied the Messiah would rescue us. (10–12)

The description of the servant’s career path seems like a tragedy. Why would someone choose to accept such circumstances? But was this really a tragic path? 

Christians across the centuries have responded to the life of the servant by choosing a similar path. Answering the call to discipleship puts one on a journey of denying self, taking up a cross of obedience and service and daily following the Jesus way (Luke 9:23). This is not easy. Yet as in the case of the servant of Isaiah, the call has consequences that are ultimately anything but tragic. Jesus, the true servant, was “highly exalted” (Phil. 2:9). 

Our lives have meaning through our faithfulness. We have hope for the future.