The last of Isaiah’s four Servant Songs begins toward the end of the previous chapter and continues throughout Isaiah 53. Now the identity of this perfect Servant comes into sharp focus. He is the One through whom God’s saving power is most clearly displayed, for through Him “the arm of the LORD” has been revealed (v 1). Though God has been promising forgiveness throughout the book, now we are learning the basis for that forgiveness. The first stanza of the song begins with the Servant’s exaltation, then quickly descends to His appalling suffering. This prophecy of the cross describes how Jesus endured a beating so severe that He no longer looked even human. Yet by His extreme humiliation He is able to restore sinners. Doing the work of a priest, He will “sprinkle many nations.” As gospel truths are revealed to them, even world leaders will be astonished by His power to cleanse (52:13-15). In the second stanza, we find an emphasis on the obscurity of God’s Servant, and even His rejection. Jesus did not aim to be popular, and people were generally unimpressed with His outward appearance. In the eyes of the world, He was a nobody. The Servant seemed like a loser. He identified with broken people rather than the elite. Few held Him in high esteem. He was despised as an outsider and rejected by those He came to rescue (53:1-3). When Jesus died, people thought He was getting what He deserved, when in fact, He was getting what we deserved. The third stanza makes clear that the Servant took the place of sinners, bearing our punishment and opening the way for our eternal peace and healing. On the cross, Christ suffered as our substitute, bearing God’s holy wrath in His own body (v 4-6). No one involved in the trial and death of Jesus really understood what they were doing. The fourth stanza highlights how God’s Servant was entirely innocent of wrongdoing, yet denied any due process of law. Instead, He was treated like a dangerous criminal and died in scandal and ridicule. People may have assumed that Jesus was overwhelmed and helpless, but He wasn’t. He meekly chose to accept the injustice perpetrated against Him (v 7-9). As a result, the Servant’s sufferings accomplished the will of God and led to His eternal success as Savior. In stanza five, the risen, life-giving Jesus is rejoicing forever over all of His blood-bought followers. He will not resent us for the anguish we cost Him; He is pleased to have borne our iniquities and to justify every sinner who turns to Him (v 10-12). Hallelujah! What a Savior! For further meditation: