In my last post, we began to explore the Character of the Suffering Servant in Yesha’yahu53. In this post, we continue to examine the Character for the Suffering Servant in Yesha’yahu53:7. You probably noticed that I skipped over verses 4-6. That was deliberate as we are currently looking at Yeshua’s character. We will come back to those when we examine His accomplishments.

The Servant Suffered Silently and Didn’t Retaliate

Though mistreated, He was submissive – He did not open His mouth. Like a lamb led to be slaughtered, like a sheep silent before its shearers, He did not open His mouth. ~ Isaiah 53:7 (CJB)

Revenge and retaliation are normal human responses when we are attacked. I know I have certainly been there and done that. The Servant was injured both physically and emotionally, but He was a willing sufferer.

Though not suffering for His own sins, the Servant suffered silently and willingly. Philip used this passage to tell the Ethiopian eunuch the good news about Yeshua, who silently bore His crucifixion (see Acts 8:31-35).

How greatly it must have hurt the Father when He saw His beloved Son with all of the righteous indignation and justifiable wrath for the atrocities of all of the killers throughout history – knowing all the while His Son was innocent. Yet He permitted it. Why? So, we could go free.

The writers of the Brit Hadashah penned a considerable amount about Yeshua’s sufferings.

¹² But when He was accused by the head cohanim and elders, He gave no answer. ¹³ Then Pilate said to Him, “Don’t you hear all these charges they are making against you?” ¹⁴ But to the governor’s great amazement, He did not say a single word in reply to the accusations. ~ Matthew 27:12-14 (CJB)

⁹ He [Herod] questioned Him at great length, but Yeshua made no reply. ~ Luke 23:9 (CJB)

⁹ He [Pilate] went back into the headquarters and asked Yeshua, “Where are you from?” But Yeshua didn’t answer. ~ John 19:9 (CJB)

²⁰ For what credit is there in bearing up under a beating you deserve for doing something wrong? But if you bear up under punishment, even though you have done what is right, God looks on it with favor. ²¹ Indeed, this is what you were called to; because the Messiah too suffered, on your behalf, leaving an example so that you should follow in his steps. ²² “He committed no sin, nor was any deceit found on his lips.” ²³ When he was insulted, he didn’t retaliate with insults; when he suffered, he didn’t threaten but handed them over to him who judges justly. ~ 1 Peter 2:20-23 (CJB)

In my next post, we will continue a verse-by-verse examination of The Suffering Servant ~ Part 6 in Yesha’yahu 53:8.

Click here for the PDF version.