Limitless Word

The Suffering Servant

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Isaiah's mysterious servant — wounded for our transgressions — and the one who fulfils him.

Deep in Isaiah a figure appears called simply "my servant" — chosen, gentle, a light to the nations, yet despised, pierced, and crushed for the sins of others, only to be raised and exalted. For centuries readers wondered who he was. The New Testament answers without hesitation: an Ethiopian official reads Isaiah 53 and Philip "told him the good news about Jesus." Follow the servant songs and you are reading the gospel before the gospel.
  1. 1

    Behold my servant

    Isaiah 42:1

    “Behold, my servant, whom I uphold; my chosen, in whom my soul delights — I have put my Spirit on him. He will bring justice to the nations.

    The first servant song: chosen, Spirit-anointed, gentle — "a light for the nations."
  2. 2

    A light to the nations

    Isaiah 49:6

    Indeed, he says, “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel? I will also give you as a light to the nations, that you may be my salvation to the end of the earth.”

    The servant's mission widens beyond Israel to the ends of the earth.
  3. 3

    I gave my back to those who strike

    Isaiah 50:6

    I gave my back to those who beat me, and my cheeks to those who plucked off the hair. I didn’t hide my face from shame and spitting.

    The servant submits to suffering and shame without turning away.
  4. 4

    Pierced for our transgressions

    Isaiah 53:5

    But he was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought our peace was on him; and by his wounds we are healed.

    The great fourth song: wounded, crushed, and bearing the sin of many.
  5. 5

    Philip tells him the good news

    Acts 8:35

    Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached to him about Jesus.

    An Ethiopian reads Isaiah 53 and asks who it means; Philip answers: Jesus.
  6. 6

    By his wounds you are healed

    1 Peter 2:24

    who his own self bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed.

    Peter applies the servant song directly to Christ on the tree.