Chapter 4 -

One or two comings -

the suffering of the Messiah

 

 

 

 

As we study the prophecies about the Messiah, we see that some of them are prophecies connected with His sufferings and death. These prophecies appear often in the Books of Prophets and psalms; they indicate that sufferings had to be one part of the Messiah’s life. We will now study some of these prophecies:

 

Rejected

 

Firstly, one feature in the Messiah’s life had to be that he is rejected. Several verses in the psalms and in the book of Isaiah refer to this.

   However, what is remarkable in all these passages is that the old Jewish sources have connected them with the Messiah as well. Also these sources have understood that the Messiah will be rejected by people, but what has not been understood is that this already happened almost 2,000 years ago. We can see it in the next examples:

 

- Isa 8:13-15. The Talmud connects these verses with the Messiah the son of David (Sanhedrin 38. a).

- Isa 28:16. One of the most well-known interpreters of the Torah, Rashi, rabbi Yaruhi Shalomo, such as also the Targum, says about this verse, that it means "Messiah-king, who will be as a touchstone of Zion.”

- Ps 118. Rashi (see Mikraot Gedolot- commentary) writes that the rejected capstone mentioned in Psalm 118 refers to the Messiah who will be born in Bethlehem, and about whom Micah (5:2) prophesied. (It is a curious coincidence, if this capstone would not mean Yeshua, who was born in Bethlehem and whom most have rejected.)

- Isa 53 is commonly associated in old Jewish sources with the Messiah.

 

Prophecy:

 

- (Isa 8:13-15) Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.

14  And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

15  And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.

 

- (Isa 28:16) Therefore thus said the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believes shall not make haste.

 

Fulfillment:

 

 - (1 Peter 2:4,6-8) To whom coming, as to a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,

6  Why also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believes on him shall not be confounded.

7  To you therefore which believe he is precious: but to them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

8  And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

 

- (Luke 2:34) And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;

 

- (John 1:9-11) That was the true Light, which lights every man that comes into the world.

10  He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

11  He came to his own, and his own received him not.

 

Prophecy:

 

- (Ps 118:22-23) The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.

23  This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.

 

Fulfillment:

 

- (Acts 4:11-12) This is the stone which was set at nothing of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.

12  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

 

Prophecy:

 

- (Isa 53:1-3) Who has believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?

2  For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he has no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

3  He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

 

Fulfillment:

 

- (John 12:35-43) Then Jesus said to them, Yet a little while is the light with you.  Walk while you have the light, lest darkness come on you: for he that walks in darkness knows not where he goes.

36  While you have light, believe in the light, that you may be the children of light. These things spoke Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.

37  But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:

38  That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke, Lord, who has believed our report? and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

39  Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,

40  He has blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

41  These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spoke of him.

42  Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:

43  For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

 

Belief in the Messiah’s crucifixion and resurrection still creates a stumbling-block for many people – as it did in Paul’s time (1 Cor 1:23: But we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block, and to the Greeks foolishness).

   The next passage describes the difficulties experienced by a young student who turned to Yeshua, the Messiah, and being confronted by people who did not understand. This illustrates what happens when the “cornerstone” comes between a father and son.

 

This issue was once experienced by a certain young student. He found by accident – when he supervised the installation of a high tension wire on the slope of Carmel Mountain – a torn New Testament that had been thrown away into a bush. The father of the student taught Talmud in a local school, and this is why this student knew the rabbinical writings well. When he first read the New Testament, he immediately understood that Jesus is the Savior that he had searched for from the Old Testament and from scriptures of forefathers. Two weeks later, he confessed his belief to his father. His father promised him money, a residence and even a wife, if he were to give up his conviction – in devout families, parents choose a spouse for their children, and of course they have more experience in this than the young. The student was still at his home having Easter meal with the family. After the supper, it was their custom to sing Hallel psalms. After the psalm 118, the youth asked his father, "Father, what was the stone which the builders rejected?” The father fell completely silent. ”Father, what was that stone the builders rejected?” Again the father fell silent, even though he always answered questions regarding the Easter evening. So the son asked a third time, “Father, what was that stone, that became the cornerstone?” Then this young student who believed in Yeshua asked for a permission to answer himself. The father nodded. And the answer of the young man was puzzling, "It is what is between the father and son!" The family that was used to the cabalistic mysteries understood immediately of whom he was talking: in Hebrew, a stone is ‘even’. If one reads the first part of the three-letter word, one gets "aav", in other words "father". The latter part, reading from the middle, forms a word "ben" or "boy" – and all of them knew that Yeshua had come between the firstborn son and his father. Soon, the student had to leave his family and change his name. The new surname of our friend, Atsmon or Independent, describes the huge change in him. As an expert of the Oriental languages and Greek, he was entrusted with the main responsibility for translating the New Testament into current Hebrew. (1).

 

HE is resisted

 

Just as one of the distinctive features of the Messiah was that he would be rejected, so he would be resisted, as we learn in Psalms 2 and 110. This was true of Yeshua.

   Significantly, old Jewish sources associate both these psalms with the Messiah. Rashi (Rabbi Yarchi Shalomo) explained Psalm 2: "Our rabbis have taught that this refers to the king Messiah, and according to this interpretation, it is applicable also to David himself..."

   Midrash said about Psalms 110:1: "Sit at my right hand," that, "He says this to the Messiah; and His throne has been prepared in grace and He will sit on it."

 

Prophecy:

 

- (Ps 2:1-2,5-12) Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?

2  The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,

5  Then shall he speak to them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.

6  Yet have I set my king on my holy hill of Zion.

7  I will declare the decree: the LORD has said to me, You are my Son; this day have I begotten you.

8  Ask of me, and I shall give you the heathen for your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession.

9  You shall break them with a rod of iron; you shall dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.

10  Be wise now therefore, O you kings: be instructed, you judges of the earth.

11  Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

12  Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

 

Fulfillment:

 

- (Acts 4:25-27) Who by the mouth of your servant David have said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?

26  The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.

27  For of a truth against your holy child Jesus, whom you have anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,

 

Prophecy:

 

- (Ps 110:1,2,4) The LORD said to my Lord, Sit you at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.

2  The LORD shall send the rod of your strength out of Zion: rule you in the middle of your enemies.

4  The LORD has sworn, and will not repent, You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

 

Fulfillment:

 

- (Hebr 10:12-13) But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

13  From now on expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.

 

Selling price 30 PIECES OF silver

 

Prophecy:

 

- (Zec 11:12-13) And I said to them, If you think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver.

13  And the LORD said to me, Cast it to the potter: a goodly price that I was priced at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD.

 

Fulfillment:

 

- (Matt 26:14-15) Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests,

15  And said to them, What will you give me, and I will deliver him to you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.

 

Money IS thrown into THE house of THE Lord 

 

Prophecy:

 

- (Zec 11:12-13) And I said to them, If you think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver.

13  And the LORD said to me, Cast it to the potter: a goodly price that I was priced at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD.

 

Fulfillment:

 

- (Matt 27:3-5) Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,

4  Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see you to that.

5  And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

 

THE Payment of potter's field

 

Prophecy:

 

- (Zec 11:12-13) And I said to them, If you think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver.

13  And the LORD said to me, Cast it to the potter: a goodly price that I was priced at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD.

 

Fulfillment:

 

- (Matt 27:3-7) Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,

4  Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see you to that.

5  And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

6  And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.

7  And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in.

 

THE Disciples FORSOOK him

 

Prophecy:

 

- (Zec 13:7) Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, said the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn my hand on the little ones.

 

Fulfillment:

 

- (Matt 26:31-32) Then said Jesus to them, All you shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.

32  But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.

 

- (Matt 26:55-56) In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are you come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and you laid no hold on me.

56  But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.

 

- (Mark 14:50) And they all forsook him, and fled.

 

Silent before HIS prosecutors

 

Prophecy:

 

- (Isa 53:7) He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opens not his mouth.

 

Fulfillment:

 

- (Matt 27:12-14) And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.

13  Then said Pilate to him, Hear you not how many things they witness against you?

14  And he answered him to never a word; so that the governor marveled greatly.

 

mocked

 

Prophecy:

 

- (Isa 53:7) He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opens not his mouth.

 

- (Isa my 50:6) I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.

 

Fulfillment:

 

- (Mark 14:65) And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say to him, Prophesy: and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands.

 

- (Matt 27:27-31) Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered to him the whole band of soldiers.

28  And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.

29  And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it on his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!

30  And they spit on him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.

31  And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.

 

Prophecy:

 

- (Ps 22:7,8) All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,

8  He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.

 

Fulfillment:

 

- (Matt 27:39-43) And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,

40  And saying, You that destroy the temple, and build it in three days, save yourself. If you be the Son of God, come down from the cross.

41  Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,

42  He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.

43  He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.

 

THE Final suffering

 

Prophecy:

 

- (Isa 53:8) He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

 

Fulfillment:

 

- (Matt 26:38-39) Then said he to them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even to death: tarry you here, and watch with me.

39  And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as you will.

 

- (Luke 22:41-44) And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,

42  Saying, Father, if you be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but yours, be done.

43  And there appeared an angel to him from heaven, strengthening him.

44  And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

 

numbered with THE transgressors

 

Prophecy:

 

- (Isa 53:12) Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he has poured out his soul to death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

 

Fulfillment:

 

- (Luke 22:37) For I say to you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.

 

- (Luke 23:32-33) And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.

33  And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.

 

made intercession for THE transgressors

 

Prophecy:

 

- (Isa 53:12) Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he has poured out his soul to death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

 

Fulfillment:

 

- (Luke 23:33-34) And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.

34  Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

 

was crucified and pierced

 

Prophecy:

 

- (Ps 22:12-18) Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.

13  They gaped on me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.

14  I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the middle of my bowels.

15  My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue sticks to my jaws; and you have brought me into the dust of death.

16  For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.

17  I may tell all my bones: they look and stare on me.

18  They part my garments among them, and cast lots on my clothing.

19  But be not you far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste you to help me.

 

- (Isa 53:5) But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was on him; and with his stripes we are healed.

 

Fulfillment:

 

- (Matt 27:31) And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.

 

- (John 19:18) Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the middle.

 

Prophecy:

 

- (Zec 12:10) nd I will pour on the house of David, and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look on me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

 

Fulfillment:

 

- (John 19:34-37) But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and immediately came there out blood and water.

35  And he that saw it bore record, and his record is true: and he knows that he said true, that you might believe.

36  For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.

37  And again another scripture said, They shall look on him whom they pierced.

 

When specific features of the Messian are mentioned, one especially graphic feature is that he would be wounded and even pierced. This was true about Yeshua, according to witnessed events recorded in the Scriptures. Even though many references to the Messian’s kingship are found in the Bible as well as rabbinical sources, yet these wounds and piercing were foretold as trials suffered for the sake of others. 

Another remarkable feature is that Jewish sources associate these verses – which refer to the suffering of a certain person – to the Messiah. This can be seen in the explanations of Zechariah 12:10, and in the fact that the Messiah will be wounded. Let’s look at these issues separately:

 

Zec 12:10. This verse refers to piercing of a certain person whom rabbis have understood to be the Messiah. They concluded that it cannot refer to anyone other than the Messiah. Consider the following:

 

- Radak (Rabbi David Kimhi) mentions it;

- Ezra mentions it;

- The Talmud (Sukkah 52 a) teaches that Zec12:10 refers to the Messiah:

 

"In the right is certainly He who explains that as a reason is killing of the Messiah, the son of Joseph, for that suits the verse well, “They shall look on me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him..."

 

- Rashi has referred to the common view among the rabbis that the verse refers to the Messiah:

 

"Our rabbis have interpreted that this refers to the Messiah, the son of Joseph.”

 

- Rabbi Moses Alsheikh also referred to Zec. 12:10 and made the same connection to the Messiah. It’s interesting that he also mentioned the task of the Messiah to reconcile the sins of people – the same task that is noted in other sources and which forms the foundation of the New Testament:

 

"'They shall look on me, for they raise their eyes on me in perfect repentance, when they see Him whom they have pierced, the Messiah, the son of Joseph; for our blessed rabbis have said that He will take on Him all the guilt of Israel and that He will then be killed in the war of bringing about atonement, quite like Israel would have pierced Him, for because of their sins He has died; and so that full atonement would belong to them, they repent and look on this blessed and say that nobody else can forgive them, who mourns for him, who died for the sake of their sins: this is what means 'they shall look on me'".

 

He is wounded. The opinion that the Messiah would be wounded is expressed in many writings by rabbis. They understood that this would happen. Today they still are not able to associate the prophesied wounding of their Messiah with the real wounding of Yeshua.

   Another important aspect of the Messiah mentioned in these quotes is atonement: The Messiah is wounded for the sake of our sins. This is an issue that was already noted to be in accordance with the teachings of the New Testament (compare 1 Cor 15:3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures):

 

- Rabbi Elia de Vidas wrote about wounding of the Messiah in the 1600s:

 

"So the Messiah suffers for the sake of our sins and He will be wounded; and who doesn't want that the Messiah is wounded for the sake of our sins, he gets himself to suffer and to bear his own sins".

 

- In the book of Zoharin the same issue is mentioned:

 

"It is written: 'He was pierced for our transgressions' and so on. The  Messiah (…) will take each illness, every pain and all punishment of Israel on Himself; they will all come and remain on Him. And if He hadn’t in this way lightened the burden of Israel and taken it to bear, a single person would not have been able to bear the punishment of Israel for offences of the law; and like this it is written, Surely he took up our infirmities."

 

Midrash of the book of Ruth refers to the suffering of the Messiah and Chapter 53 of Isaiah. In some of its passages the verse Ruth 2:14 has been explained like this (Midrash Ruth Rabbaa, parasha 5.):

 

"... baptize your piece of bread to wine vinegar, are those sufferings, about which has been written, that he has been wounded for the sake of our sins.”

 

One of the annual prayers of Yom Kippur is "Musaf" that originated sometime in the 9^th century. It refers to the suffering and wounding of the Messiah based on Isaiah 53:

 

"The Messiah, our righteousness, has turned away from us. We have been beaten broken and because of that, we have no intercessor. Our crimes and the yoke of our bad deeds are a heavy burden. But he has been wounded for our sins. He carries our sins on His shoulders, so that we would get forgiveness. And by His wounds we are healed; it has come time to create an eternal new creation.”

 

Death

 

References to the death of the Messiah are found in the books of Isaiah, Zechariah, and Daniel.

   It is worth noting that rabbinical commentaries associate all these passages with the Messiah. Those rabbis grasped that these Scriptures refer to the Messiah, but could not see that the prophecies were fulfilled in Yeshua. 

 

Prophecy:

 

- (Isa 53:8,9,12) He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

9  And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

12  Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he has poured out his soul to death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

 

- (Gen 3:15) And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; it shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.

 

- (Dan 9:26) And after three score and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and to the end of the war desolations are determined.

 

- (Zec 12:10)  And I will pour on the house of David, and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look on me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

 

Fulfillment:

 

- (Matt 20:28) Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered to, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

 

- (Luke 23:44-46) And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.

45  And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the middle.

46  And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into your hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

 

- (1 Cor 15:3) For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures

 

THE garments are divided

 

Prophecy:

 

 - (Ps 22:18) They part my garments among them, and cast lots on my clothing.

 

Fulfillment:

 

 - (Matt 27:35) And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and on my clothing did they cast lots.

 

- (John 19:23-24) Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.

24  They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which said, They parted my raiment among them, and for my clothing they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.

 

Isaiah 53

 

We referred earlier to the sufferings in the Messiah’s life and to His death. The books of the Prophets contain many references to His suffering. Isaiah Chapter 53 is especially important because it describes the last days and hours of the Messiah’s life and His suffering, and it explains the significance of His death.

   Today, though, Jews reading Isaiah 53 meet a huge stumbling block. It is not read in synagogues. Instead, they skip from Chapter 52 over to Chapter 54. They may explain that Chapter 53 does not refer to the person of the Messiah, but describes the nation of Israel and its sufferings across the centuries.

   This cannot be true because Isa 53:10 refers to a guilt offering, and as such it was required to be perfect and blameless (Read Leviticus 5); there is no way that this can refer to a nation.

   Richard Wurmbrand, a Jew, wrote about an occasion when he and other members of a synagogue discussed just this issue:

 

   (... ) This is just what we did.

   It was Friday evening: The Jews had assembled early in their synagogues to read the Holy Book or to dispute before the service.

   I sat beside the rabbi, and I asked so loudly that also those who sat near heard, "Rabbi, I have been informed that there is a book, written by a Jew – as far as I can remember – the prophet Isaiah. Is it worth reading?”

   "What a question!” he answered. ”If you only read it! Its content is pure gold.”

   "Rabbi, I have read many books expecting to find valuable information but only to be disappointed. Are you sure that the same does not go for the book of Isaiah?”

   "Young man, such a thought in itself is a sin. As a matter of fact, the book has not been written by Isaiah, but by God himself. Isaiah was only a pen.”

   "Rabbi, where I can find the book of Isaiah?”

   He pulled it from the shelf and handed it to me. Before opening the book, I asked him once more to assure that it really is the word of God.

   Then I opened chapter 53 and asked, "Rabbi, to whom does this refer?” And I read aloud the verse in which a suffering servant of the Lord is described. ”This description fits Yeshua to the dot," I said. ”He has to be the Messiah.”

   The rabbi shouted, "You should not read that chapter, but rather chapter 11.”

   Then I turned towards the Jews. ”Dearest friends! You have heard the rabbi confirming that each word of this book is by God. Then also this description of suffering Yeshua must be inspired by God.”

   The rabbi left the synagogue angry and banged the door shut behind him. He surely thought that I would be polite enough to leave as well, but instead, I stayed behind to explain the prophecy of Isaiah to the Jews. (2)

 

Even though modern Judaism does not associate chapter 53 of Isaiah with the Messiah, it is interesting to note that it was not always so. We can find many writings of rabbis speaking about connection between Isaiah 53 and the Messiah. Often, the older the explanations are, the more probably they refer to the Messiah. Let’s look at some of these explanations:

 

Well-known Rabbi Moses Alshekh (1508-1600) explained that Isaiah 53 was connected with the Messiah. He mentioned that this was also the view of the old learned:

 

"Our old learned have preserved for us the testimony of traditional knowledge that this refers to the Messiah. Because of this, we must also follow them and believe that this prophecy refers to David, in other words the Messiah, who will appear like this.”

 

Midrash Tanhuma, dated in the ninth century, and later Jalkut Shimoni explain that the suffering servant of Isaiah 53 is the Messiah:

 

"This is the king Messiah, who will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted, higher than Abraham, greater than Moses and higher than the ministering angels.”

 

The Talmud (Sanhedrin 98. b) has referred to the Messiah in connection with this same chapter and explained how He carried our sorrows:

 

"The Messiah – what is His name? The rabbis said, His name is 'Leper, learned man’, for it has been written that He carried our sorrows and took up our infirmities. We considered Him a leper, we supposed that God smote and afflicted him.”

 

Rabbi Moshe Cohen ibn Crispin said in the 1300s that he believed that Isaiah 53 referred to the king Messiah, because it was the teaching of the rabbis:

 

"They (certain contemporary commentators) compare without consideration the expression 'my servant ' to the idea ‘you, O Israel, my servant,’ in Isaiah 41:8, in which the prophet speaks about the nation of Israel. However, this does not refer to Israel, it says merely 'my servant’. Therefore, we cannot interpret the word in the same way. (...) I would like to interpret that it (Isaiah 53) refers to king Messiah as the rabbis have taught, and carefully, as long as I am able, I try to hold on to the literal meaning: this way, I may possibly avoid the far-fetched interpretations of which the others have been guilty."

 

Jonathan Ben Uzziel, regarded as the wisest student of the famous rabbi Hillel, also understood that Isaiah 53 refers to the Messiah. He started his explanation about this chapter:

 

 "See, my servant the Messiah will act wisely.”

 

Rabbi Maimonides (Rambam), referred to Isaiah 53 in his commentary in Midrash Rabba (p. 660). In addition to this, his description very much resembles Psalm 22, which has commonly been regarded as a description of the Messiah’s crucifixion:

 

"God made already in the beginning a covenant with the Messiah, and told Him: 'My righteous Messiah, those who are entrusted to you, their sins will bring to your shoulders a heavy burden and your ears will hear a large shame and your mouth will taste bitterness and your tongue will stick to the roof of your mouth and your soul will be powerless under grief and sigh. Do you submit to this?' And he answered, 'I will happily receive all these pains, so that no one of Israel would get lost.' Immediately when the Messiah had accepted all these pains in His love, as has been written in the book of Isaiah 53:7, he was oppressed and afflicted.”

 

Well-known rabbi Levi Ben Gershom also referred to Isaiah 53. He associated it with the Messiah, as do all the other earlier sources:

 

"Really, the Messiah is this kind of prophet, such as Midrash says; See, my servant will act wisely (Isa 52:13)... Moses got with miracles one nation to serve God, but the Messiah will get all the nations to serve Him.” (1)

 

One or two comings?

 

When we study Scriptural prophecies about the coming of the Messiah, we easily find two lines: one refers to His suffering, humiliation and death and the other His ruling as a victorious and sovereign king – a king whose kingdom is eternal.

   Judaism has tried to resolve this apparent contradiction by developing the notion that perhaps there are two Messiahs. Several rabbis fit these two seeming contradictions by proposing that the first one comes as the Messiah, the son of Joseph, who suffers and will die; and then after him will come the Messiah, the son of David, who will rule as a winning king.

   However, there is also another way to explain these prophecies: it is much more reasonable to view these prophecies as fulfilled in one person -- Yeshua -- who comes two times and so fulfils both lines of these prophecies.

  We will study this in the light of the next explanation written by a certain messianic Jew:

 

I tried energetically to explain to the rabbi the enormous difference, which prevailed between the description of Rambam and the real Messiah described by the Bible. The theory of the learned separated these two Messiahs from each other. Another, "Mashiach Ben Joseph", will come first and will die in a war, and yet another, "Mashiach Ben David", will come as a winning king. According to this theory, there must be two Messiah figures, even though Tanach speaks only of one Messiah, who must come twice: first, He must come to atone the nation by His death and to save them from the eternal judgment and to open the gates of salvation to the Gentiles by his resurrection, and second, He must come once again as winning King of kings and Lord of lords. Tanach does not lead to understand that there would be two Messiahs, as there is neither a biblical reason to believe that the Messiah will come when whole Israel celebrates two Sabbaths properly.

   "On the contrary, honored rabbi," I exclaimed, “Yeshua alone fulfils all the demands, connected with the Mashiach Ben Joseph, because the spouse of His mother Miriam (Mary) was called Joseph and because He resembles Joseph, the son of our father Jacob, by whole his biography. He is also expected to fulfill all prophecies concerning the Mashiach Ben David, when he soon returns on the clouds of the sky with great glory and brightness to establish His kingdom on the earth.”

   I could not help noticing that when I explained prophecies in the messianic way, the interest of the rabbi was awakened, and he listened to me more and more attentively. Little by little, he stopped interrupting me so aggressively. (3)

 

As far as the teaching of the New Testament is concerned, it clearly refers to these two lines: to the suffering and humiliation of the Messiah and also to His coming on the clouds of the sky and with brightness. It is, therefore, not a question of two different Messiahs, but of one who will fulfill the prophecies of both lines. We believe that this best suits Yeshua, who has already fulfilled the prophecies of the first line.

   Let’s study both lines separately:

 

The humiliation and the death of the Messiah

 

 - (1 Peter 1:10,11) Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come to you:

11  Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

 

- (Acts 26:22-23) Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue to this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:

23  That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should show light to the people, and to the Gentiles.

 

- (Acts 3:18) But those things, which God before had showed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he has so fulfilled.

 

- (Luke 24:25-27, 32) Then he said to them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:

26  Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?

27  And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

32  And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?

 

The coming of the Messiah in the clouds of heaven

 

- (Hebr 9:28) So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and to them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin to salvation.

 

- (Zec 14:5) …and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with you.

 

- (1 Thess 3:13) To the end he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

 

- (2 Thess 1:7-9) And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,

8  In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

9  Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power

 

- (Matt 24:30) And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

 

- (Rev 1:7) Behold, he comes with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

 

The verses above refer to the Messiah, to the coming of the Son of Man in the clouds of heaven. It is interesting to note that this coming is not ignored in the Talmud, which refers to the coming of the Messiah in the clouds of heaven when explaining Daniel 7:13. This verse also describes the Messiah’s humble nature and His riding on an ass, which accurately describes the first coming of Yeshua. We believe that he will fulfill both lines of the prophecy:

 

"The son of David will arrive during a generation which is either completely righteous or completely sinful; during a time that is completely righteous, such as has been written Isa 60:21, Your people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever; or during a time when all people are sinful, as has been written Isa 59:16, “And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor… I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven (Dan 7:13), and it has been written, lowly and riding on an ass: if they are righteous, He will come with the clouds of heaven, if not, lowly and riding on an ass.”

 

If we still seek for an idea of the two comings of the Messiah from the old Jewish sources, we will find that this idea is not new there, either: Sidur, the official prayer book of the Jews, also refers to two days of the Messiah, to two comings. This prayer is apparently from the 9^th or 10^th century and it is repeated during the annual Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur):

 

"May Your will be with You, the Lord, our God and our fathers’ God, that we would obey Your commandments in this world and would deserve, live and see and inherit a good part and blessing on the two days of the Messiah and in the coming eternal life.”