Jan. 30, 2011
Background Scripture: Isaiah 53
Devotional Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:16-21
A number of years ago I was able to get in touch with the guy who, until his family moved to the far end of the state, had been my best friend in childhood. On one of my periodic visits to my place of birth and childhood, I decided to go to see him. We had really been the best of friends, and I still regret that we had been out of touch for so long.

His wife had informed me he was quite ill, but that he would be glad to see me. But when I entered their house, it was apparent he was dying, and in terrible pain. Although as a pastor I have visited many in that process, I was devastated by his obviously excruciating pain.

I soon realized the very best thing I could do would be to offer a brief prayer and leave. As I drove away from their home, I kept thinking: “One of the most pleasant, easy persons I have ever known – and to suffer that much!”
I have encountered more than a few people who have told me they do not fear death itself, but do fear the suffering that may precede it. Sometimes suffering is the natural consequence of something we do or are. That includes punishment.

More often, suffering is purely accidental. Occasionally someone suffers because they offer and sacrifice their own safety or life for the purpose of saving another. This is vicarious suffering, the theme we encounter in the song of the Suffering Servant.

Righteous suffering

Actually, although the Servant Song begins with 52:13 and continues through 53:12, this week’s lesson covers just the first six verses of Isaiah 53. It is an oracle in the form of a poem and deals with one of life’s great fears: Suffering. One scholar calls it “the most influential poem in any literature.”
First, however, who is the Suffering Servant? Is the prophet speaking of a person or a group of people? Despite some controversy on this, I think the text clearly tells us that Israel is the Servant who will suffer for the case of the Lord’s worldwide reign.

But don’t we associate Jesus and his death with the passion of the Isaiah’s Suffering Servant? I think the answer is yes, because Jesus himself saw his role indicated in this oracle.

But in Judaism, the Suffering Servant was not associated with the Messiah. In fact, that is why many rejected Jesus as God’s anointed: They could not conceive of a Messiah who would suffer and die on a cross. Isaiah himself asks: ”Who has believed what we have heard? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” (53:1).
Accepting a cross

Did Jesus choose to die on the cross? I do not think Jesus wanted to go to the cross, any more than any of us. But he accepted the cross because he knew it was the only way that he could stay faithful to his mission.
Did God want Jesus to die? Some people would interpret 53:4 that way, but Isaiah says “yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.” Esteem means to “consider” or “regard.” Isaiah, thus, I believe, is saying we assumed that God ordained his suffering. I came across no sources indicating a different meaning of the Hebrew word translated as “esteemed.”

So, I do not see God as choosing to make Jesus suffer on the cross. That was a choice made by hostile crowds and officials. But neither do I believe that God wanted  Jesus to back down and deny his Messianic purpose.

The cross depended upon the sin of his enemies and the faithfulness of Jesus to God’s cause. He suffered grievously and died, not because he wanted to, but because he wanted his followers to know what following him could require of them, so that if necessary, they too could suffer for God’s cause.
Who is this Suffering Servant? As the prophet delivered his oracle, Israel was the servant of whom he was speaking. Later, Jesus came to see himself in that role. And finally, all Christians are called to accept the role of the suffering servant when that suffering can be redemptive.

Albert Schweitzer has said that “whoever is spared personal pain must feel himself called to help in diminishing the pain of others. We must all carry our share of the misery which lies upon the world.” Because if you can’t bear the cross, then you can’t wear the crown!

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with comments for Rev. Althouse may write to him in care of this publication.