In my thread "Evidence for why we know the New Testament writers told the truth" that is currently in the History and Literature forum we touch briefly on Isaiah Chapter 53 of the Bible. Since it deals with prophecy I thought I'd bring it to the Religion forum to take a closer look at this biblical chapter. In the book "Examine the Evidence" author Ralph Muncas examines this chapter on pages 332 - 335. Let's take a look at it. The author uses the New International version of the bible. The numbers to the left are a listing of specific prophecies and not the verse number.
Isaiah Chapter 53
Who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
1 He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
2 He was despised and rejected by men,
3 a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
4 Like one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
5 Surely he took up our infirmities
and carried our sorrows,
6 yet we considered him stricken by God,
smitten by him, and afflicted.
7 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
8 he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
9 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
10 He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
11 he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
12 and as a sheep before her shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
13 By oppression [a] and judgment he was taken away.
14 And who can speak of his descendants?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was stricken.
15 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
16 and with the rich in his death,
17 though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.
18 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,
19 he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.
20 After the suffering of his soul,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
21 by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
22 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
23 and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
24 because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
25 For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.
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The author explains each one but I will just show some of his explanations.
1) Jesus came to human beings in a fashion that would seem unattractive -- as a baby. He worked as an ordinary carpenter (unmajestic).
9) He spoke of himself as giving his life for the "sheep". All human sin was borne by him.
10) When he was oppressed at his trial, he would not open his mouth except as legally required.
14) He was "stricken" for the transgressions (sin) of many.
15) He was crucified with 2 criminals and was supposed to be buried with them.
16) A rich man, Joseph of Arimathea, asked for Jesus' body and placed it in his own tomb.
23) He divided the "spoils" with the "strong" (believers would prosper eternally).
