The Big Story: God Speaks to Isaiah about His Suffering Servant


Part of the Big Story of the Bible concerns suffering.  The earliest idea about suffering seems to have been related to the idea that God blesses the righteous and punishes the wicked (See Psalm 1).  If people were suffering, it was because God was punishing them for their sins.

But then Job comes along.  The book of Job is a deep dive into suffering.  Job suffered, yet he was a righteous man.  His friends say he needs to acknowledge his sin.  But he debates with them, maintaining his innocence and protesting his suffering.  In the end, God appears and condemns Job's friends, who had been standing up for him.  The final message of the book is that sometimes the righteous suffer, but they may never know why.

Then, Isaiah 52:13-53:12 comes along and takes the conversation about suffering to a whole new level.  This passage is part of a group of "Servant Songs" in Isaiah.  As they begin, they appear to describe corporate Israel.  But by the time they get to chapter 52, they appear to speak about an individual who embodies Israel.

Isaiah 53:5 says, "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed."  Though the world would assume this Servant was suffering for his own sins, he would suffer for theirs.

The New Testament clearly associates the Suffering Servant with Jesus.  1 Peter 2:24-25 says of Jesus, "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls."

This was an important step in God's mission to save the world.  It showed that his salvation would come through someone suffering for us.

Now, that Servant calls us to join him in his way of service and suffering.  Luke 9:23-24 says, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it."

 Like Jesus, we gain by losing and live by dying.


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