10 Truths About Jesus From Isaiah 53

Isaiah 53 is one of the most fascinating chapters of the Bible. It is the most complete and descriptive prophetic word about the coming Messiah, in the Old Testament.

What makes this so interesting is that it was written many centuries before Jesus’ death. The predictions are so complex and precise that it verifies the divine inspiration of the Bible.

Nearly every single line of Isaiah 53 is repeated by a New Testament writer – that is how profound this chapter is!

While this chapter is a beautiful and stunning testimony of Christ, it is also one of the saddest chapters in scripture as it speaks of the crushing blows our Savior suffered so we could be forgiven of our sins.

Join me as we take a look together at…

10 Truths About Jesus from Isaiah 53

1.) Jesus was like a young plant.

For he grew up before him like a young plant,
and like a root out of dry ground;
(Isaiah 53:2)

Jesus was like a young plant – he came in weakness as a baby. And he was like a root out of dry ground. God brought life out of dry ground!

2.) Jesus had no beauty that we should desire him.

He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
(Isaiah 53:2)

Jesus was not attractive. This does not mean he was ugly but he did not use his outward appearance to attract others. He was normal looking – he would not have stood out as the Messiah.

3.) Jesus was despised and rejected by men.

He was despised and rejected by mankind,
(Isaiah 53:3)

The prophet Isaiah could foresee that the coming Messiah would be rejected by men. We need to remember that God accepts men that sometimes man rejects. God is not looking at our outward appearance – he is looking at our heart.

4.) Jesus was a man of suffering, sorrows and grief.

A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
(Isaiah 53:3)

Jesus does not just carry our sin but he also carries our sorrows. Spurgeon explains it best…

“Jesus was a man not of sorrow only, but of ‘sorrows.’ All the sufferings of the body and of the soul were known to him; the sorrows of the man who actively struggles to obey; the sorrows of the man who sits still, and passively endures. The sorrows of the lofty he knew, for he was the King of Israel; the sorrows of the poor he knew, for he ‘had not where to lay his head.’ Sorrows relative, and sorrows personal; sorrows mental, and sorrows spiritual; sorrows of all kinds and degrees assailed him. Affliction emptied his quiver upon him, making his heart the target for all conceivable woes.”

5.) He was wounded and crushed for our transgressions and iniquities.

But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.
(Isaiah 53:5)

Jesus was pierced, crushed, chastised and wounded – why?

For us.

6.) He was oppressed and afflicted yet he did not open his mouth. He was silent.

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 its shearers is silent,
    so he did not open his mouth.
(Isaiah 53:7)

In Mark 15:1-5 it tells us that when Jesus went before pilate – he was silent:

Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, made their plans.

So they bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate.

“Are you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate.
“You have said so,” Jesus replied.
The chief priests accused him of many things. 
So again Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer?
See how many things they are accusing you of.”
But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.

7.) He was cut off from the land of the living.

By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
    Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
    for the transgression of my people he was punished.
(Isaiah 53:8)

This is the first time in the passage that we see that Jesus would die. Up until this point, we only see him suffering but now we see that he would be cut off from the land of the living.

And why would he die?

For us.

8.) His grave was with the wicked yet he had done no violence.

He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
    and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
    nor was any deceit in his mouth.
(Isasiah 53:9)

This verse is so important!

It shows us that Jesus never sinned yet he was buried with sinners.

9.) It was God’s will to crush Jesus.

Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
    and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
    and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
(Isaiah 53:10)

Jesus was not a victim. This was a part of God’s plan prophesied hundreds of years in advance.

And Jesus would be crushed – why?

For us!

He was the offering for your sin and mine.

10.) By his righteousness, we are made righteous.

Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;
by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,
    make many to be accounted righteous,
    and he shall bear their iniquities.
(Isaiah 53:7)

God’s wrath towards sin was fully satisfied by his death. For all who believe, he bore our sins on the cross. And now we can be counted as righteous because of his suffering, death and resurrection!

Victory!!!!

Do you see it? Jesus defeated Satan and sin when he died on the cross.

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Friends – If you ever doubt that Jesus loves you – just READ and MEDITATE and MEMORIZE Isaiah 53. Let it soak into your heart how much Jesus loves you.

You are SO loved!

Keep walking with the King,

Courtney