Isaiah 53 Explained: Israel or the Messiah? Part III
2. Why I believe Yeshua fulfills this prophecy.
All one needs to do is read it!
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. (Is. 53:3)
—Yeshua was rejected by our people. Yes, tens of thousands of Jewish people did follow Him, but the religious leaders and majority of Israelites rejected Him.
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. (Is. 53:5)
—Yeshua was pierced as they hung him on the cross. How clear is that!? And we believe that “by His wounds, we are healed.”
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shears is silent, so he did not open his mouth. (Is. 53:7)
—Although He could have defended Himself (Matt: 26:53) He willingly laid down His life. Not once did He try to get out of his death sentence.
He was assigned a grave with the wicked. (Is. 53:9)
—Crucifixion was the way common criminals were killed.
…and with the rich in his death. (Is. 53:9)
—Joseph of Arimathea was a rich man and a Pharisee who gave his tomb to Yeshua (Matt. 27:57-59).
He will see his offspring (Is. 53:10)
—Over a billion people now claim to follow this Jewish man.
…and prolong his days…after the suffering of his soul, he will see the light. (Is. 53:10-11)
—Yeshua rose from the dead and over 500 people witnessed it. Ten of His original disciples suffered a martyr’s death believing He rose from the dead. Why would someone allow himself to be killed for what they knew to be a lie?
…my righteous servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities. (Is. 53:11)
—The New Covenant records that this man was thought to have died as an atonement for the Jewish people. Yeshua’s cousin, the Jewish prophet John, prophesied when he saw Yeshua, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)
Therefore I will give Him a portion among the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong, because He poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. (Is. 53:12)
—As recorded, Yeshua was “numbered with the transgressors” as He was crucified between a thief and a murderer. Very simply, He was a righteous man who bore the sin of the world and willingly gave His life.
In conclusion
If it were not for the fact that Yeshua looks so much like this man, would any scholar not immediately conclude that this passage refers to the Messiah? Of course not. Isaiah, 700 years before Yeshua, described in detail that Jewish man portrayed in the New Covenant, Yeshua.
*Originally published on Aug. 24, 2012
