Suffering Servant
Isaiah 53
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1 Who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. 3 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. 4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. 5 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. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 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 shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken. 9 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. 10 Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand. 11 After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. 12 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. biblegateway.com, Isaiah 53 |
Favorite Passage: Isaiah 53:2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
This "Suffering Servant" is, in catholic terms, is Jesus Christ. It is obvious to us that he was 'suffering' during his crucifixion and died for our sins, and was a 'servant' for us during his life. For Jews, however, it is not so clear. They do not believe that Jesus is the Suffering Servant. Some Jews are still waiting for the person described in Isaiah 53, and that Jesus was not the Suffering Servant for many reasons, like Jesus did not fulfill the messianic prophecies, and many other reasons. Others believe that Isreal, with its many years of suffering and opression,is the Suffering Servant.
Review Questions
- 1. Who is the Jewish Suffering Servant?
2. Who is the Catholic Suffering Servant?
3. What was the approximate date of Isaiah 53?
Answers
Sources
http://www.bible.org/page.php?page_id=2553
(bible.org)
Talor J. Micheal, S.J., The Mystery of Suffering and Death. Staten Island, New York: Alba House 1968.
Singer, Isadore, "Suffering" in the Jewish Encyclipedia 1905.