(This series is excerpted from our book, The Case for Jesus the Messiah (ATRI Publishing, 2014))
The term “Messiah” is taken from Psalm 2:2 and Daniel 9:25-26 where Mashiach (Hebrew), Messias (Greek) means “Anointed One.” The term took its meaning from the Jewish practice of anointing prophets, priests, and kings to their respective offices. As a generic term it could be applied to an earthly king such as David (2 Samuel 19:21) who was anointed to fulfill the divine purpose of his office.
In this article we continue to look at a fourth clue to help us identify the Messiah. Is He the one whose birth we celebrate at Christmas?
We now continue answering the question, “Is Isaiah 53 Speaking of Jesus Christ?”
(6) “For he was cut off from the land of the living, for the transgression of my people he was stricken” (53:8).
But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One... and put to death the Prince of Life... For you first, God raised up his Servant... (Acts 3:14-15, 26).
For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.... God demonstrates his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:6, 8).
(7) “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” (53:9).
So as evening approached, Joseph of Arimathea... placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb (Mark 15:42-46).
(8) “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,...” (Isaiah 53:10).
But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ should suffer he has thus fulfilled (Acts 3:18).
All this is from God... God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ... (2 Corinthians 5:18-19).
(9) “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” (Isaiah 53:11).
Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, was buried, and raised on the third day... (1 Corinthians 15:3-6).
(10) “...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” (Isaiah 53:12).
Two rebels were crucified with him... (Matthew 27:38). “Father, forgive them...” (Luke 23:34). He was delivered over to death for our sins and raised to life for our justification (Romans 4:25).
Was Isaiah 52:13–Isaiah 53 recognized by Jews as Messianic?
Proof that this passage has long been acknowledged as Messianic can be seen from early rabbinic writings. The rabbis developed the idea of two Messiahs from this passage—the suffering and dying “Messiah ben Joseph” and the conquering “Messiah ben David.”
Today, some Orthodox Jews still wait for the political Messiah, while others accept Jesus Christ as the suffering Messiah but deny His deity.
Dr. Raphael Patai wrote, “When the death of the Messiah became an established tenet in Talmudic times... the dilemma was solved by splitting the person of the Messiah in two....” On the basis of Isaiah 53, the Babylonian Talmud boldly predicts, “Messiah ben Joseph will be slain....”
Even such rabbis as Maimonides and Rabbi Crispin believed Isaiah 53 described God’s Messiah, not the nation of Israel. The father of modern Hebrew, Wilhelm Gesenius, wrote, “It was only the later Jews who abandoned this Messianic interpretation, no doubt in consequence of their controversies with the Christians.”
Dr. Pinchas Lapide, an Orthodox Jewish New Testament scholar, said, “Isaiah 53 lends itself in many startling similarities to the life, career and death of Jesus of Nazareth....” He even believed Jesus physically rose from the dead based on historical evidence, though he saw Him as Messiah for the Gentiles only.
Let us ask you, if Jesus Christ is not God’s suffering Servant found in Isaiah 53, then who is?
Clue to Identify the Messiah: Whoever the Messiah is, He must fit the following description—He will be wounded, bruised, mocked, killed with thieves, bear the sins of many, rejected by His own people, pierced for our transgressions, buried in a rich man’s tomb, and come back to life after His death.
Ed. Note: Our book, The Case for Jesus the Messiah, details several more important clues to the identity of the Messiah. See it in our online store: The Case for Jesus the Messiah.