Isaiah 53:4-6, Who is the Servant? (2)

Here are some of Buksbazen’s quotes of rabbis prior to the 11^th century A. D.  I have copied this, with the punctuation, as it was in his text.

Going back to the oldest Jewish interpretations of this passage, we find that Targum of Jonathan ben Uziel (2^nd century A. D., an Aramaic paraphrase of the Bible, renders Isaiah 52:13 in this way: “Behold my servant Messiah shall prosper; he shall be high, and increase and be exceedingly strong.” 

The Babylonian Talmud (codified in the 6^th century) also applies Isaiah’s prophecy Messianically: “The Messiah – what is his name? … The Rabbis say, ‘the leprous one’; Those of the house of Rabbi say, ‘the sick one,’ as it is said, ‘surely he hath borne our sickness.’” 

Midrash Rabbah, referring to Ruth 2:14, explains: “He is speaking of the King Messiah: ‘Come hither draw near to the Throne; and eat the bread,’ that is the bread of the kingdom: ‘and dip thy morsel in the vinegar.’  This refers to his chastisements, as it is said, ‘But he was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities.’ 

In the Yalkut Shimoni, a later Midrash (a rabbinical commentary), it is written: “Who art thou, O great mountain?”  (Zech. 4:7).  This refers to the King Messiah, And why does he call him “the great mountain?”  Because He is greater than the patriarchs.  As it is said, “My servant shall be high and lifted up and lofty exceedingly.”  He will be higher than Abraham, who says, “I raise high my hand unto the Lord” (Gen. 14:22).  Lifted up above Moses, to whom it is said, “Lift it up into thy bosom” (Num. 11:12): Loftier than the ministering angels, of whom it is written: “Their wheels were lofty and terrible” (Ezek. 1:18). 

These are only a few of many rabbinical comments relating to Isaiah 52:13-53:12, which, with one accord, apply it to the Messiah.

Before we continue on, stop and consider what we have just read.  God’s message of salvation in the OT was clear.  The rabbis could understand that the plan involved a Man, a Savior, a Messiah.  And they could see in the OT that He would bring salvation through His suffering.  None of these saw the fulfillment in Jesus of Nazareth.  But neither did most of the Jewish leaders who were contemporary with Jesus.  That is an issue of unbelief, not lack of knowledge.

What is encouraging is to know that God’s word was understandable to men.  It is the power of God unto salvation (Rom. 1:16-17).  We need to remember that the Christ we preach is both “the chief cornerstone” and “a stone of stumbling” (1 Peter 2:7-8).  The gospel must be accompanied by earnest prayer that those who hear will be obedient to the gospel, putting their confidence in Christ.