Jesus Fulfills Isaiah 53

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Isa. 53:7 “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.”

When Christians began pointing out that Jesus fulfilled Isaiah 53 EXACTLY, the Rabbis of Israel then changed their tune and declared that the suffering servant their refers to Israel and her sufferings. I have even been explained to a Jew recently about this and he maintains that this passage is about Israel.

I tried to point out the following obvious reasons why the suffering servant in Isaiah 53 CANNOT be Israel:

1. Israel in the Old Testament is said to be the wife of God and is therefore never referred to as a ‘he’ or ‘him’ like Isaiah 53 does.

2. The servant in the passage suffers even though He is innocent (verse 9), and that while the Jews have been persecuted terribly in all the nations they have been scattered, this scattering and persecution is a result of their disobedience to God’s law (Deut 28:58-68). Israel is DEFINITELY not innocent and guiltless like the servant of Isaiah 53 is!

3. It is for the transgression of “my people” that the servant dies. The nation of Israel is God’s people in the Old Testament. The servant cannot also be Israel then!

4. The death of the servant brings justification for the many (verse 11). It would be utter nonsense to say that the sufferings of a disobedient Israel would bring justification to the gentile nations. That is rubbish!

Anyway, so I pointed these things out plus a few more. No avail. But I am looking forward to that day when they will realize that our Lord Jesus Christ, whom they have pierced (Zec. 12:10), is their Messiah.