Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:1-6 ESV)
This beautiful fourth “Servant Song” in Isaiah is sometimes called the “fifth gospel.” We once again see the Servant who suffers on behalf of others. This prophetic picture of Jesus Christ portrays Him as a Man with no physical beauty that would draw us to Him, yet we know Him as the Creator and Giver of all things beautiful. He was despised, rejected, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, and makes a way for us to experience none of those things. He was pierced and crushed for our transgressions and iniquities, even though He committed none Himself. He took our chastisement so we could experience His peace. He was wounded so we could be healed. We were the wandering sheep, He was the obedient Son, yet He took all our waywardness, rebellion, and iniquity (and all the consequences) upon Himself. What love!
Behold, the Lamb of God! 