READ: Isa. 52:13–53:12: … Surely He has borne our griefs … He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed … And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all …
The redemption from exile is directly connected with Jesus Christ as the great Redeemer. That deliverance from Babylon was necessary for His coming to earth among His people.
It was also a foreshadowing of His work of redemption from the bondage of sin and destruction.
Now, following this redemption from Babylon, we hear of His coming and His work as the Servant of the LORD. It continues the passages about Him in chapters 42 and 49.
The Servant comes forth from the cut-down trunk of Jesse’s line and is deeply humbled; He must suffer greatly during His life on earth. Yet He acts wisely—He endures it knowingly, carrying out the will of the Father (52:13; Heb. 10:4). Therefore, after finishing His suffering, He will be exalted by God (Phil. 2:9).
Through His atoning suffering He will cleanse people from their sins everywhere (52:15). The gospel of His suffering is therefore a reason for worship for those who understand it (cf. Phil. 2:10–11; Heb. 2:5–10). The gospel of Isa. 53 is not according to man (v.1): the Man of sorrows, despised by men (vv.2–3), crushed by God (vv.6, 10).
The cause is that He took upon Himself the sins of mankind and their consequences (v.4). He, though innocent, is crushed for our transgressions and bears God’s punishment that we have deserved (v.5).
His suffering is substitutionary: God lays upon Him our iniquity (vv.6, 8, 10). He pays for our guilt with His death, like a lamb that is slain (v.7). Thus He reconciles us to God; He brings us peace with God and healing from sin’s consequences—eternal life (v.5). This gospel of substitutionary suffering must never be let go!
Is the suffering of Christ an expression of His strength?
Sing: Ps. 118:8, 9