Prophecy: Day Five - The Suffering Servant

Old Testament prophecies told God’s people about Jesus hundreds of years before His birth.

The Suffering Servant

“He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground.  He had no beauty or majesty … he was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering … He was pierced for our transgressions … and by His wounds we are healed … We all like sheep have gone astray … and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”Isaiah 53:2-6

This is a pivotal passage in Scripture. Few can deny the detailed description of the suffering servant and its direct application to Jesus on the Cross. The Christian faith is built in part on the truth of these words. Through them, the dimensions of His life unfold -- born to humble beginnings, a man of sorrows, and a suffering servant who died for our sins. Through His death and resurrection, He imparts to us undeserved healing and new life. The power of this passage has changed lives for centuries. How could Isaiah write such details hundreds of years before the actual events happened?  Hundreds of years before Christ’s birth the miracle of His life was perfectly described.

Almighty God, thank you for such deep and amazing love. Give us a richer understanding of your passion for us. We can’t grasp this love without your help. Amen.