Isaiah 53 “The servant of God”

Isaiah 53 (NIRV)

1 Who has believed what we’ve been saying? Who has seen the Lord’s saving power?

2 His servant grew up like a tender young plant. He grew like a root coming up out of dry ground.

He didn’t have any beauty or majesty that made us notice him. There wasn’t anything special about the way he looked that drew us to him.

3 People looked down on him. They didn’t accept him. He knew all about pain and suffering. He was like someone people turn their faces away from. We looked down on him. We didn’t have any respect for him.

4 He suffered the things we should have suffered. He took on himself the pain that should have been ours.

But we thought God was punishing him. We thought God was wounding him and making him suffer.

5 But the servant was pierced because we had sinned. He was crushed because we had done what was evil. He was punished to make us whole again. His wounds have healed us.

6 All of us are like sheep. We have wandered away from God. All of us have turned to our own way.

And the Lord has placed on his servant the sins of all of us.

7 He was treated badly and made to suffer. But he didn’t open his mouth. He was led away like a lamb to be killed. Sheep are silent while their wool is being cut off. In the same way, he didn’t open his mouth.

8 He was arrested and sentenced to death. Then he was taken away. He was cut off from this life. He was punished for the sins of my people. Who among those who were living at that time tried to stop what was happening?

9 He was given a grave with those who were evil. But his body was buried in the tomb of a rich man. He was killed even though he hadn’t harmed anyone. And he had never lied to anyone.

10 The Lord says, “It was my plan to crush him and cause him to suffer. I made his life an offering to pay for sin. But he will see all his children after him. In fact, he will continue to live. My plan will be brought about through him.

11 After he has suffered, he will see the light of life. And he will be satisfied. My godly servant will make many people godly because of what he will accomplish. He will be punished for their sins.

12 So I will give him a place of honor among those who are great. He will be rewarded just like others who win the battle. That’s because he was willing to give his life as a sacrifice. He was counted among those who had committed crimes. He took the sins of many people on himself. And he gave his life for those who had done what is wrong.”

Discussion:

1. Isaiah 53 is often referred to as a prophecy of the Messiah. Do you agree? What specific phrases or verses in this chapter lead you to this conclusion? What other interpretations, if any, might be possible?

2. Verse 3 describes the servant being despised and rejected by mankind: “People looked down on him. They didn’t accept him. He knew all about pain and suffering. He was like someone people turn their faces away from. We looked down on him. We didn’t have any respect for him.” Why do you think he faced such rejection, and what does this tell us about the world's initial response to him?

3. According to verses 4-6, what was the true reason for the servant's suffering? How does the phrase "He was punished to make us whole again" resonate with you?

4. Verse 5 states, "...His wounds have healed us ." What kind of healing do you think this verse refers to – physical, spiritual, or both? Explain your reasoning.

5. Verse 7 says, "He was treated badly and made to suffer. But he didn’t open his mouth. He was led away like a lamb to be killed. Sheep are silent while their wool is being cut off. In the same way, he didn’t open his mouth." What does this silence in the face of suffering reveal about the servant's character and purpose?

6. Consider verse 10: "The Lord says, “It was my plan to crush him and cause him to suffer." Why would God will the suffering of the servant? What ultimate purpose did this serve, according to the text?

7. Verse 11 speaks of the servant "Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied" (ESV). What do you think the servant sees? How does his suffering lead to satisfaction?