< Isaiah 53 >

The questions: “Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?” v.1Waiting for response for Isaiah 53:1 foreshowed that people generally would not believe the gospel. The preaching of the gospel was prophesied in this section of Isaiah, and the apostle Paul quoted the previous chapter (Isaiah 52:7)Waiting for response for Isaiah 52:7 concerning the bringing of glad tidings, showing that rejection of the gospel was anticipated (Romans 10:15-16).Waiting for response for Romans 10:15-16 This chapter should really begin at chapter 52 for verses 7-15 as they speak of Christ and his proclamation to the people but, say the apostles: “Who hath believed our report?”

The apostles proclaimed Jesus was “the King of Israel” and “the Son of God” but men saw no beauty in him v.2Waiting for response for Isaiah 53:2 and despised and rejected him v.3.Waiting for response for Isaiah 53:3 However, the purpose of God included, not only the glory to come, but also Christ’s suffering for sin on our behalf, e.g. “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all” v.6.Waiting for response for Isaiah 53:6 These verses describe in the most poignant terms the suffering of Jesus on our behalf: “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” vs.4-5.Waiting for response for Isaiah 53:4-5

As the New Testament confirms, Jesus willingly accepted the excruciating agony of the cross to save us, entering no protest but remaining silent before his tormentors v.7Waiting for response for Isaiah 53:7 (Acts 8:32-35).Waiting for response for Acts 8:32-35 He had no natural children for he was cut off out of the land of the living so that none could declare his generation v.8,Waiting for response for Isaiah 53:8 yet when the LORD made his soul an offering for sin he saw his seed v.10.Waiting for response for Isaiah 53:10 The explanation is that God’s purpose involves a great many men and women being counted as Christ’s seed, even though they have no blood relationship with him. By belief and baptism they are born again and are constituted “in Christ” and are the children which God has given him (Hebrews 2:13).Waiting for response for Hebrews 2:13 He bare their sins and made intercession for their transgression, pouring out his life unto death v.12,Waiting for response for Isaiah 53:12 and because he did this in obedience to his Father, God promised to “divide him a portion with the great” v.12Waiting for response for Isaiah 53:12 and in due course Jesus will be the ruler of Israel and the world.