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Is Jesus Christ Really the Messiah?

A Study of Isaiah 53

There have been many attacks in recent years on the bible that have questioned whether Jesus was actually the Messiah. It is an impossible task for me to refute every claim and every attack, but the purpose of this study is to demonstrate from the Old Testament that Jesus IS the Messiah.

I believe Isaiah chapter 53 holds a great key to understanding just who the Messiah is.  There are some that doubt whether Isaiah 53 is actually a Messianic prophecy and they claim that this actually represents Israel, Judah, or some Person who is yet to come.

Let's Examine The Character and Nature of the True Messiah

There are many scriptures that declare Messiah to be one that will rule and conquer the world, yet others describe him as a meek and humble servant.  I think with proper understanding of events surrounding Messiah and prophecies of his kingdom, this can be readily understood.  I want, however, to examine the prophecies concerning Messiah, the servant for the purposes of this study.

Beginning in Isaiah 52:

I don't want to replicate the Word of God, but I need to ensure that you have actually read (or have readily available) the Word of God from these passages.  Below is the Passages of Isaiah 52:13 through Isaiah 53:12 for your reference.

  I prefer that you have YOUR bible open for this study, however, I also realize there are some that will NOT use a bible in these types of online studies.  Let's now, examine these passages:

Isaiah 52:13 "Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high.

14  As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:

15  So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider."

Isaiah 53:1  "Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?

2  For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him

3  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.

4  Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

5  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.

6  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

7  He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

8  He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

9  And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

10  Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

11  He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities

12  Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because 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

In 15 verses of Scripture, we have at least 58 characteristics of this Servant.

 Let me provide you with something a bit easier to see.  Below is a summary of the Characteristics.  Now remember as you read that just one of these is all that is needed to disqualify anyone from being that Servant. 

 

Survey of the Servant of Isaiah 53

  • He will deal prudently (52:13)

  • He will be exalted, extolled and be very high (52:13)

  • Many will be astonished at Him (52:14)

  • His visage (appearance) was marred (disfigured) more than any man (52:14)

  • His form marred more than the sons of men (52:14)

  • He shall sprinkle many nations (52:15)

  • Kings shall shut their mouths at him. (52:15)

  • He shall grow up as a tender plant (53:2)

  • He shall grow up as a root out of dry ground (53:2)

  • He would not be comely or beautiful (53:2)

  • He would have no beauty to be desired. (53:2)

  • He would be despised and rejected of man (53:3)

  • He would be a man of sorrows (53:3)

  • He would be acquainted with grief (53:3)

  • He would be despised rather than esteemed (53:3)

  • He would bear their griefs/sicknesses (53:4)

  • He was esteemed stricken, smitten by God and afflicted (53:4)

  • He was wounded for their transgressions (53:5)

  • He was bruised for their iniquities (53:5)

  • By His stripes/wounds, others were healed (53:5)

  • God laid on Him the iniquity of them all (53:6)

  • He was oppressed (53:7)

  • He was afflicted (53:7)

  • He was led as a lamb to the slaughter (53:7)

  • As a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth. (53:7)

  • He was taken from prison/confinement and from judgment. (53:8)

  • He was "cut off" from the land of the living (53:8).

  • He was stricken for the transgressions of God's people (53:8).

  • They made his grave with the wicked, but with the rich at his death (53:9).

  • He had done no violence (53:9).

  • There was no deceit in his mouth (53:9).

  • It was pleasing to God to bruise Him (53:10).

  • God has put Him to grief (53:10).

  • His soul was a trespass offering or offering for sin [Heb. "Asham"] (53:10)

  • He shall see His seed (53:10).

  • He shall prolong His days (53:10)

  • The pleasure of God shall prosper in His hand (53:10)

  • After the suffering of His soul, He shall see the light of life (Dead Sea Scrolls, Septuagint in 53:11).

  • God shall see the travail of His soul and be satisfied (53:11)

  • By His knowledge this righteous Servant shall justify many for He shall bear their iniquities (53:11).

  • God will divide this servant a portion with the great and He will divide the spoil with the strong because of the next three items (53:12)

  • He poured out His soul unto death (53:12)

  • He was numbered with the transgressors (53:12)

  • He bore the sin of many (53:12)

 

 

There are other characteristics we should examine.  We should examine the characteristics of those who would see this Servant.

 

Characteristics of Those Who Would See This Servant

  • They will see him (53:2)

  • There would be no beauty for them to desire of him (53:2)

  • They hid their faces from Him (53:3)

  • They despised and did not esteem the Servant (53:3)

  • Their griefs/sicknesses were borne by the Servant (53:4)

  • They esteemed the Servant stricken, smitten by God and afflicted (53:4)

  • Because of their transgressions, the Servant was wounded (53:5).

  • Because of their iniquities, the Servant was bruised (53:5).

  • They would be healed by the stripes/wounds of the Servant (53:5).

  • They have all turned, every one, to his own way. (53:6)

  • The iniquities of all of them, God laid on the Servant (53:7).

  • For their transgressions, the Servant was stricken (53:8)

  • They made the Servant's grave with the wicked, but with the rich at his death because he had done no violence and no deceit was in his mouth (53:9)

  • They will be justified/declared righteous (Heb. Tsadak) by this Servant's knowledge, for He shall bear their iniquities. (53:11)

 

 

Now we come to the question:  Just Who Is This Servant? 

 Is it Judah?  Israel?  Some other one?  Could it be Jesus?

 

There are actually 4 possibilities of just who it could be:   Israel, Judah, Israel and Judah combined, or The Messiah.

Let's examine the texts to see who it is.
 

 

 

  

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