Please explain what Isaiah is saying in Isaiah 53.
I think it would be helpful to quote a few verses from Isaiah 53 and compare them with verses from the New Testament. That way, it will become clear what Isaiah is saying.
Isaiah 53:1 says, “Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?” It was said of the Lord Jesus in John 12:37-38, “But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?” The application of this verse to the Lord Jesus begins this wonderful chapter. It shows us that this chapter is prophetic of the Lord Himself…the One who was UNBELIEVED, UNLOVED, AND UNWANTED.
Isaiah 53:3 says, “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 we esteemed him not.”
- HE IS DESPISED – The Lord Jesus said in John 15:25, “They hated me without a cause.”
- REJECTED OF MEN – John 1:11 speaks of Christ, “He came unto his own, and his own received him not.”
- A MAN OF SORROWS – Another verse that is prophetic of the Lord Jesus is Lamentations 1:12, “Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and SEE IF THERE BE ANY SORROW LIKE UNTO MY SORROW, which is done unto me, wherewith the LORD hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger.”
- WE ESTEEMED HIM NOT – This means that we placed no value on Him, we did not consider Him to be the true loving Son of God. Peter said in Acts 3:13, “The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.”
Isaiah 53:5 says, “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.”
- WOUNDED FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS – Speaking of Christ, we read in Romans 4:25, “Who was DELIVERED FOR OUR OFFENSES, and was raised again for our justification.”
- WITH HIS STRIPES WE ARE HEALED – Speaking of Christ, we read in 1 Peter 2:24, “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: BY WHOSE STRIPES YE WERE HEALED.”
We can literally find Christ in each verse of this chapter. I encourage you to read and meditate on this incredible chapter. Commit its verses to memory! Isaiah is writing of the coming, suffering, and death of the Messiah. He loved, yet He was hated. He came to save sinful man from Hell, yet His own people delivered Him up and denied His person. When Pilate was willing to let Him go, they would not have it. They shouted, “Crucify him, crucify him.” (Luke 23:21)
Before closing this little meditation, let’s consider Isaiah 53:10, “Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him…” It pleased the Father to punish His Son! How could that possibly be? Romans 8:32 tells us that God “spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 tells us that God “…hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” It was God’s wrath upon His dear Son that allows sinful men to become the “righteousness of God in him.” That Holy One who knew no sin was made sin by God, and God exhausted His wrath on His blessed head. The Lord Jesus paid the sin debt of all those who will come to Him and receive His free gift of salvation. The Lord cried out from the cross in John 19:30, “IT IS FINISHED: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” The work of salvation has been accomplished. “IT IS FINISHED.” There is nothing for you and me to do but put our faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross. He paid the price that you and I could never pay. Have you put your faith in Him? Do you know Christ as your savior? Isaiah 53:12 says of the Lord, “…he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” Do you BELIEVE HIM? Do you LOVE Him? Do you WANT Him to be your savior? The message of Acts 16:31 could not be any clearer. It says, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved…” (234.8)