The Servant - Isaiah 53:5

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Today we will read Isaiah 53:5 which says, “But He was pierced because of our transgressions, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on Him and we are healed by His wounds.”

A large portion of Isaiah is devoted to this character, “The Servant.” And while it seems so obvious to the Christian that this is a prophecy about Jesus, it is tragic that the chosen people through whom our scriptures came do not believe this. To them, the Servant is a personification of Israel as a whole. If this is you, I respectfully ask just one question, given that the Servant suffers in place of the rebellious, how then can Israel be both the affliction and the cure?

Why a cross? Why a suffering servant? Because of our trangression. That is, our gross rebellion. He is crushed because of our iniquities. That is, our evil deeds. Punishment for our, our what? Our peace was on Him and we are healed by His wounds.

No one can accuse the bible of being straightforward and clear. But here seems an exception. The Servant suffers piercing, crushing, punishment, and ultimately death in order to absorb our rebellion. In order for us to have peace and healing, He must be destroyed.

Why a cross? If Jesus is what God looks like when becoming human, then the cross is what God looks like while taking the responsibility of granting peace to humanity. When God says, “I’ll make sure they have peace” it looks like a cross. When God says, “I’ll deal with their rebellion so they don’t have to,” it looks like a slaughter for the God-Man.

Does this surprise you? If so let me ask, given the unimaginable horror humanity has inflicted upon itself, how else should it look?

“Jesus, I don’t get it, but I’m grateful. You offer peace. You take our rebellion. Show me more of what this means.”