Isaiah 52:13-53:12 describes the suffering servant prophesied to face rejection and humiliation yet ultimately succeed and be exalted, revealing the power of God through his sacrifice. This passage emphasizes that he bears the sins and afflictions of many, offering healing and a path back to God, and is foundational in understanding Christ's ministry. It highlights the paradox of his lowly appearance and immense significance, foretelling both his suffering and future glory.

1. The Foreordained Servant
Isaiah 52:13-53:12

2. Isaiah 52:13-53:12
13 “Look, my servant will succeed! He will be
elevated, lifted high, and greatly exalted – 14
(just as many were horrified by the sight of
you) he was so disfigured he no longer looked
like a man; 15 his form was so marred he no
longer looked human – so now he will startle
many nations. Kings will be shocked by his
exaltation, for they will witness something
unannounced to them, and they will
understand something they had not heard
about.

3. Isaiah 52:13-53:12 (NET)
• 1 Who would have believed what we just heard?
When was the Lord’s power revealed through him?
2 He sprouted up like a twig before God, like a root
out of parched soil; he had no stately form or
majesty that might catch our attention, no special
appearance that we should want to follow him. 3
He was despised and rejected by people, one who
experienced pain and was acquainted with illness;
people hid their faces from him; he was despised,
and we considered him insignificant. 4 But he lifted
up our illnesses, he carried our pain; even though
we thought he was being punished, attacked by
God, and afflicted for something he had done.

4. Isaiah 52:13-53:12 (NET)
5 He was wounded because of our rebellious deeds,
crushed because of our sins; he endured punishment
that made us well; because of his wounds we have been
healed. 6 All of us had wandered off like sheep; each of
us had strayed off on his own path, but the Lord
caused the sin of all of us to attack him. 7 He was
treated harshly and afflicted, but he did not even open
his mouth. Like a lamb led to the slaughtering block,
like a sheep silent before her shearers, he did not even
open his mouth. 8 He was led away after an unjust trial
– but who even cared? Indeed, he was cut off from the
land of the living; because of the rebellion of his own
people he was wounded.

5. Isaiah 52:13-53:12 (NET)
9 They intended to bury him with criminals, but he ended
up in a rich man’s tomb, because he had committed no
violent deeds, nor had he spoken deceitfully. 10 Though
the Lord desired to crush him and make him ill, once
restitution is made, he will see descendants and enjoy
long life, and the Lord’s purpose will be accomplished
through him. 11 Having suffered, he will reflect on his
work, he will be satisfied when he understands what he
has done. “My servant will acquit many, for he carried
their sins. 12 So I will assign him a portion with the
multitudes, he will divide the spoils of victory with the
powerful, because he willingly submitted to death and
was numbered with the rebels, when he lifted up the
sin of many and intervened on behalf of the rebels.”

6. Introduction to the Servant
• Written 700 years before Christ.
• It details the nature of Christ’s ministry.
• One of the most quoted OT passages in the
NT.
Matthew 8:17 (NET) In this way what was spoken
by Isaiah the prophet was fulfilled: “He took our
weaknesses and carried our diseases.”
Luke 22:37 For I tell you that this scripture must be
fulfilled in me, ‘And he was counted with the
transgressors.’ For what is written about
me is being fulfilled.”

7. The Exalted Servant (52:13)
• He will be a servant.
• He will be exalted
Isaiah 52:13 (NET) “Look, my servant will
succeed! He will be elevated, lifted high, and
greatly exalted –
Matthew 12:18 “Here is my servant whom I have
chosen, the one I love, in whom I take great
delight. I will put my Spirit on him, and he will
proclaim justice to the nations.
Philippians 2:9 (NET)
9 As a result God exalted him and gave him the name
that is above every name,

8. The Suffering Servant (52:14-15a)
• He will be a suffering servant
Isaiah 52:14-15 14 (just as many were
horrified by the sight of you) he was so
disfigured he no longer looked like a man;
15 his form was so marred he no longer
looked human

9. He will impact the nations (52:15)
Isaiah 52:15 (NET) his form was so marred he no
longer looked human – so now he will startle
many nations. Kings will be shocked by his
exaltation, for they will witness something
unannounced to them, and they will understand
something they had not heard about.
Isaiah 52:15 (NIV)
15 so will he sprinkle many nations, and kings will
shut their mouths because of him. For what they
were not told, they will see, and what they have not
heard, they will understand.

10. Who would have believed? (53:1)
• Who would have believed that he would be a
suffering servant?
• Who would have believed that he wouldn’t come in
force (military might)?
Isaiah 53:1 (NET) Who would have believed what we
just heard? When was the Lord’s power revealed
through him?
John 12:37-38 (NET) 37 Although Jesus had performed
so many miraculous signs before them, they still
refused to believe in him, 38 so that the word of Isaiah
the prophet would be fulfilled. He said, “Lord, who
has believed our message, and to whom has
the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

11. A Lowly and Rejected Messiah
(53:2-3)
• He was lowly
• He was rejected
Isaiah 53:2-3 2 He sprouted up like a twig before God,
like a root out of parched soil; he had no stately form
or majesty that might catch our attention, no special
appearance that we should want to follow him. 3 He
was despised and rejected by people, one who
experienced pain and was acquainted with illness;
people hid their faces from him; he was despised, and
we considered him insignificant.
Matthew 16:21 From that time on Jesus began to show his
disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many
things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and experts
in the law, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.

12. A Substitute Who Bore Our
Afflictions (53:4-6)
• He would take our illnesses and diseases
upon himself.
Isaiah 53:4 4 But he lifted up our illnesses, he
carried our pain; even though we thought he
was being punished, attacked by God, and
afflicted for something he had done.
Matthew 8:16-17 16 When it was evening, many
demon-possessed people were brought to him. He
drove out the spirits with a word, and healed all
who were sick. 17 In this way what was spoken by
Isaiah the prophet was fulfilled: “He took our
weaknesses and carried our diseases.”

13. A Substitute Who Bore Our
Afflictions (53:4-6)
• He will take away our sins.
Isaiah 53:5 (NET) He was wounded (NIV-
pierced) because of our rebellious deeds,
crushed because of our sins; he endured
punishment that made us well; because of
his wounds we have been healed.
1 Peter 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his
body on the tree, that we may cease from
sinning and live for righteousness. By his
wounds you were healed.

14. A Substitute Who Bore Our
Afflictions (53:4-6)
• He will bring us back to God.
Isaiah 53:6 All of us had wandered off like
sheep; each of us had strayed off on his own
path, but the Lord caused the sin of all of us
to attack him.
1 Peter 2:24-25 24 He himself bore our sins in his
body on the tree, that we may cease from
sinning and live for righteousness. By his
wounds you were healed. 25 For you were going
astray like sheep but now you have turned
back to the shepherd and guardian of your
souls.

15. A Willing Sacrifice (53:7)
Isaiah 53:7 He was treated harshly and afflicted, but
he did not even open his mouth. Like a lamb led to
the slaughtering block, like a sheep silent before
her shearers, he did not even open his mouth.
Mark 14:60-61 60 Then the high priest stood up before
them and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer? What is
this that they are testifying against you?” 61 But he was
silent and did not answer. Again the high priest
questioned him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the
Blessed One?”
1 Peter 2:23 (NET)
23 When he was maligned, he did not answer back;
when he suffered, he threatened no retaliation, but
committed himself to God who judges justly.

16. Unjustly Condemned (53:8-9)
• He will receive an unjust trial
• He will be killed.
Isaiah 53:8 He was led away after an unjust trial –
but who even cared? Indeed, he was cut off from
the land of the living; because of the rebellion of
his own people he was wounded.
Acts 8:31-33 31 The man replied, “How in the world can I, unless
someone guides me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit
with him. 32 Now the passage of scripture the man was reading
was this: “He was led like a sheep to slaughter, and like
a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open
his mouth. 33 In humiliation justice was taken from
him. Who can describe his posterity? For his life was
taken away from the earth.”

17. Unjustly Condemned (53:8-9)
• He will be condemned with criminals
• He will be buried with the rich.
Isaiah 53:9 They intended to bury him with
criminals, but he ended up in a rich man’s tomb,
because he had committed no violent deeds, nor
had he spoken deceitfully.
Matthew 27:38 Then two outlaws were crucified with
him, one on his right and one on his left.
Luke 23:50-53 50 Now there was a man named Joseph
who was a member of the council, a good and
righteous man…. 53 Then he took it down, wrapped it
in a linen cloth, and placed it in a tomb cut out of the
rock, where no one had yet been buried.

18. A Pleasing Sin Offering (53:10)
Isaiah 53:10 10 Though the Lord desired to
crush him and make him ill, once
restitution is made, he will see
descendants and enjoy long life, and the
Lord’s purpose will be accomplished
through him.

19. A Willing and Satisfied Savior
(53:11)
Isaiah 53:11 Having suffered, he will reflect on his work,
he will be satisfied when he understands what he has
done. “My servant will acquit many, for he carried
their sins.
John 10:14-18 14 “I am the good shepherd. I know my own
and my own know me – 15 just as the Father knows me and
I know the Father – and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16
I have other sheep that do not come from this sheepfold. I
must bring them too, and they will listen to my voice, so
that there will be one flock and one shepherd. 17 This is why
the Father loves me – because I lay down my life, so that I
may take it back again. 18 No one takes it away from me,
but I lay it down of my own free will. I have the authority to
lay it down, and I have the authority to take it back again.
This commandment I received from my Father.”

20. The Suffering Servant will be
Exalted (53:11-12)
Isaiah 53:12 So I will assign him a portion
with the multitudes, he will divide the
spoils of victory with the powerful, because
he willingly submitted to death and was
numbered with the rebels, when he lifted
up the sin of many and intervened on
behalf of the rebels.”
Colossians 2:15 Disarming the rulers and
authorities, he has made a public disgrace of
them, triumphing over them by the cross.

21. What About You?
Every knee shall bow and every tongue
confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Don’t wait until then, bow the knee and trust
in Him today.