He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. (Isaiah 53:7)Did Isaiah prophesy that Jesus was the Suffering Servant? Some readers will say, Absolutely! How could anyone not see it? And others, No, that doesn't fit with the general nature of prophecy; there must be another explanation!
The reason some scholars question the assumption that Isaiah had Jesus in mind is that most predictive prophecy regards the near future, not a future many generations removed from the original audience. We find what God is speaking to us by first determining what God was speaking to the original audience. Isaiah's audience was concerned with one thing and one thing only: returning to Jerusalem. Where did Christ's ministry and death enter into that story?
Yet let's acknowledge: He was led like a lamb to the slaughter sure sounds like Jesus. As does, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (Psalm 22:1) The answer might be found in Matthew's temptation narrative (4:1-11). Regarding his first temptation, Jesus' answer is straight from Deuteronomy 8:3. His final two responses are from 6:7 and 6:13. In his actions and words, Jesus is showing that whereas Israel was God's unfaithful son, he is the faithful Son.
Jesus identified with these Old Testament pictures. In the case of the Suffering Servant, Israel was the servant, albeit imperfect. Jesus took that role upon himself, becoming not only the perfect Son, but also the perfect Servant.
How do the Suffering Servant songs minister to you? [1]
[1] Isaiah 42:1-9; 49:1-6; 50:4-9 and 52:13-53:12.
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