In my last post, we began to explore the Character of the Suffering Servant in Yesha’yahu 53. In this post, we continue to examine the Character for the Suffering Servant in Yesha’yahu 53:3.

The Servant Was Willing to Suffer Rejection

³ People despised and avoided Him, a man of pains, well acquainted with illness. Like someone from whom people turn their faces, He was despised; we did not value Him. ~ Isaiah 53:3 (CJB)

Just like a withered plant in verse 2 is uprooted and thrown away, so the Suffering Servant was rejected by men. The Servant would fully experience the effects of sin and the Fall. Because people would fail to see how such a weak, insignificant person could do anything beneficial for them, they would be unconcerned about His suffering.

Rejection of the Servant reveals how misguided the human mind is. Despite the clear language in this passage, the Jews were expecting the Messiah to be a Warrior King ala King David.

According to Luke 2:52, as Yeshua grew up, He found favor both in the eyes of God and men. But that changed. The people began to despise Him, reject Him, and turn away from Him to such a degree that He asked His talmidim if they would leave, as well (see John 6:67).

Yeshua had the same emotions that we all have, yet without sin. He was willing to give His life for us and humble Himself as a human being to fulfill this prophecy.

The writers of the Gospels make it clear that Yeshua fulfilled Yesha’yahu’s prophecy and faced rejection for our sakes.

He began teaching them that the Son of Man had to endure much suffering and be rejected by the elders, the head cohanim and the Torah-teachers; and that He had to be put to death; but that after three days, He had to rise again. ~ Mark 8:31 (CJB)

Then, taking the Twelve, Yeshua said to them, “We are now going up to Yerushalayim, where everything written through the prophets about the Son of Man will come true. 32 For He will be handed over to the Goyim and be ridiculed, insulted and spat upon. 33 Then, after they have beaten Him, they will kill Him. But on the third day, He will rise.” ~ Luke 18:31-33 (CJB)

He came to His own homeland, yet His own people did not receive Him. 12 But to as many as did receive Him, to those who put their trust in His person and power, He gave the right to become children of God, 13 not because of bloodline, physical impulse or human intention, but because of God. 14 The Word became a human being and lived with us, and we saw His Sh’khinah, the Sh’khinah of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth. ~ John 1:11-14 (CJB)

In my next post, we will continue a verse-by-verse examination of The Suffering Servant ~ Part 5 in Yesha’yahu 53:7. Yes, I realize we’re jumping from verse 3 to verse 7, but I have a valid reason for that as you will soon see.

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