Isaiah & Jesus

Snookie · Joined: 19 Jun 2008 Posts: 64

I was reading Isaiah 53 recently and was struck by something. This chapter has passages that, to us as Christians, are obviously about Jesus. A few are...

He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, [our] faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. v 3

Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. v 4

But He [was] wounded for our transgressions, [He was] bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace [was] upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. v 5

And they made His grave with the wicked-- But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor [was any] deceit in His mouth. v 9

Question

What I was wondering is this: If the Jews in Jesus' day did not believe that He was the fulfillment of this prophecy, who did they think it was about? I know they were waiting for a David-like Messiah to return and restore Israel to prominence, but this passage indicates that bad things were in store for the Messiah. Was thinking about this the other day and thought maybe someone with a better understanding of Jewish history would be able to help.
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snookie

God's Warrior · Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 3:47 pm Post subject:

I remember studying this in one of the Prophecy classes we have attended. I am not sure right now where my notes are for that, however. I am hoping that some teacher who has covered this subject in their teaching will reply to this.
That is an excellent question that someone at some good Messianic Jewish site could probably answer with ease.

Al · Joined: 18 Mar 2007 Posts: 51 Location: Southern USA

I am not sure that I have ever heard this question so It will take a while to study. I suspect the answer may be right before our eyes today. George Bush was hated to the degree that no amount of reason by anyone could keep the Democrats and the news media from just becoming more convinced that he was evil. The Jews of the day did not seem to consider facts, no matter who presented them. It is a fact in Jewish history that others had come before Christ and had claimed to be the Messiah.

Very good question.

Snookie · Joined: 19 Jun 2008 Posts: 64

Isaiah was important to the Jews because they would read that book in the synagogues. Jesus even did this and told them that the scripture he’d read had been fulfilled that day. They were waiting for their David to return, their warrior king. Isaiah wasn't speaking of this kind of Messiah in this context, so I was curious how they explained that.

It could be that my understanding of this Messiah they were waiting for, as opposed to who Jesus was, is flawed. Jesus even stumped them when he asked them how David could call his Son "Lord" (Matt 22:42-46).

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snookie