By Dr. Donald Whitchard

If you have not read the first three installments of this series, you can find them here:

God’s Suffering Servant: A Look at Isaiah 53 

God’s Suffering Servant, Part 2: The Sin-Bearing Servant 

God’s Suffering Servant, Part 3: The Amazing Servant of Jehovah

We are continuing our journey through the Messianic prophecy of Isaiah 53. With this episode, we get into the heart of why the Servant has come. It is a forerunner to the end of the sacrificial system that Israel has known for generations. The Servant’s time will be a fulfillment of Scripture (Jeremiah 31:31-34). His mission is not one just of sacrifice, but one of redemption for a rebellious people. The verse we are about to examine present this scene. This is a glorious passage describing the salvation of peoples from all around, but it is, first of all, a mission designed to redeem God’s chosen. We will continue using an outline form that will make it easier to follow. Remember this: Prophecy means nothing if it not centered upon the person and work of Jesus Christ. There is no need to study end-time events if the redemptive work of Christ on the cross had failed. Without Jesus, the study of the Bible itself would be pointless. If the Resurrection had not happened, then we’re just wasting our time and we will be eternally doomed (1 Corinthians 15: 1-19). But, praise God, the work of redemption started before the world was ever created. Salvation is not an episode in our history that God had to make up on the spot. Our salvation was a carefully orchestrated plan that would succeed.

1. The Burden of the Servant (53:4)

1. Isaiah presents the fact that God Himself puts these burdens on the Servant.
2. The Servant bears our griefs and sorrows (Matthew 11:28-30)
3. The people watch as He is stricken (Luke 23::16; Mark 15:16-20)
4. God Himself strikes and afflicts the Servant (Psalm 22:1-2, 6-8, 16-18) The question asked is “why”?

11. The Purpose of the Servant (The question answered) –v.5

1. He is wounded for our transgressions (1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:3)
2. He is bruised for the sake of our iniquities.
3. His chastisement is for the sake of our eternal peace.
4. We are healed spiritually because of His wounds and beating (Luke 4:18)

111. The Portrait of the Rebellious People (v.6)

1. We are lost sheep without a Shepherd (Jeremiah 50:6; Ezekiel 34:6; John 10:11)
2. We all go our own direction with no one to guide us (1 Peter 2:25)
3. God Himself lays our sins upon His Servant (Hebrews 9:28; John 3:5)

Jesus Christ, the Suffering Servant, came to die for our sins and rescue us from our iniquities. Let us give Him thanksgiving and praise for His love and compassion. Here is an excellent method to prove the validity of Scripture and witness to someone who may be skeptical of everything we believe. Prophecy is an excellent tool for witnessing and it strengthens our faith as well. One day we’ll see Him face to face and embrace him for His exceedingly great love for the crown jewel of His creation.