Most Christians are familiar with Isaiah 53. It’s the passage about Jesus being the suffering servant. He was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities, and the chastisement for our peace was upon Him. You remember that one, don’t you?
I will only comment on that passage by saying it is full of truth, solemn truth. It’s full of gravity and weight.
But I don’t want to expound on that passage, primarily because so many people have already heard about it. The chapters leading up to it, however, are not familiar to most. For that reason, they are of more interest to me.
Chapter 51 has two phrases to catch my attention: “Awake, awake” and “Listen to me.” For that reason, we need to pay attention. This chapter is chalked full of comfort to God’s people. “Don’t fear the enemy; fear Me,” is basically the Lord’s message.
The end of 51, however, is not so comforting. The Lord declares the punishment that’s coming before the comfort. Rather than going too far with that, the Lord (through Isaiah) goes back to proclamations of peace and rescue.
Which leads us back to the start…
Jesus…
The sin-bearing, suffering, despised servant…
Who becomes our Rescuer, our Salvation, our Lord.
Omer Redden 