Isaiah 53

7 The servant would remain silent during his affliction; likewise Jesus remained silent and did not retaliate against those who insulted Him (Mark 14:60–61; 15:35; 1 Peter 2:23). Jesus was led like a lamb to the slaughter; He was a sacrificial lamb, a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the world (Romans 3:25). John the Baptist called Jesus the Lamb of God (John 1:29,36).

8 By oppression and judgment he (the servant, Jesus) was taken away—condemned. Jesus never had a fair trial. He had no physical descendants; He was cut off in the prime of life.²⁰²

9 Though Jesus had done no wrong, He was assigned a grave with the wicked;²⁰³ His executors (the Romans) considered Him to be a criminal. The Apostle Peter quotes the last part of this verse to exhort believers to follow Jesus’ example and be prepared to suffer even if they have done no wrong (see 1 Peter 2:21–22).

Let us always keep in mind that these passages of Scripture are not just about the “servant,” about Jesus; they are about us. We are to be like the servant Isaiah describes here; we are to be like Jesus (Romans 8:29).

10 Yet, even though the servant had done no wrong, it was the LRD’S will to crush him. This sounds cruel and heartless until we remember that the Lord was “crushing” His own Son on the cross—and for our sake! The Lord made His life a guilt offering (see Leviticus 5:14–19; 6:1–7); the Lord “paid for” and thereby removed our guilt by sacrificing His own Son on the cross.

However, the servant will in the end be honored: he will see his offspring—that is, his spiritual descendants, his followers. He will prolong his days; he will live forever (see Hebrews 7:24). And the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand, because he will be lifted up and highly exalted (Isaiah 52:13).

11 After his suffering, the servant will see the light of life; he will be resurrected, he will overcome death. This clearly points to the resurrection of Christ.

The servant will also be satisfied; he will have completed his work (see John 17:4). Jesus’ sacrifice of His body on the cross “satisfied” God’s demand that sin be punished. The repeated sacrifices of the Old Testament priests could not provide such satisfaction (Hebrews 10:1–4); Jesus’ sacrifice, however, did provide such satisfaction once for all (Hebrews 10:10,14).

. . . by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many. To “justify” someone means to cause that person to be declared righteous in God’s sight; it means to acquit a person of wrongdoing; it means to erase the legal consequences of sin. However, mere knowledge cannot justify anyone; the servant does not justify people by his knowledge but by bearing their sins. The “knowledge” referred to in this verse, then, is the servant’s knowledge of God, a knowledge based on faith and obedience. Because of that knowledge, the servant will obey God and offer his life for the sake of many; in so doing, he will bear their iniquities and thereby justify them (see Romans 5:1,18–19).

12 Here Isaiah describes how God will reward the servant for his obedience: God will reward His servant as a king rewards a general after a military victory. And the servant will further divide his portion among the strong, among those who serve with him in righteousness.

Why will God reward His servant? Because he poured out his life unto death. He was obedient to death—even death on a cross (Philippians 2:8–9). He himself was innocent of sin (Hebrews 4:15), but yet he was numbered with the transgressors. By his death he bore the sin of many; he was charged with their sins and so he bore their penalty. He made intercession for them before the heavenly Judge, asking Him to acquit them and to transfer their punishment to him. And this servant, Jesus Christ, continues making intercession for us to this day (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:24–25). This is what our Savior Jesus Christ has done for us, and Isaiah wrote about it seven centuries before Christ was born.