One of the common themes underlying much of the New Testament is the grappling of the early Church to understand the meaning behind the person and life of Jesus of Nazareth. In so many ways, Jesus Christ was a truly “new” event; in fact, in many he is the only “new” event since the beginning of time. So the first Christians were understandably at a loss to completely understand what it all meant. Some of the realities revealed by Christ – such as the Trinity – took centuries to explain in human language (and even then, the language only scratched the surface of the reality).

In order to try to make sense of Jesus, the first Christians – all Jews – looked to one place: the Scriptures, or what is called our Old Testament. They poured over the Scriptures to find ways to understand and explain the events of Christ’s life, especially his death and resurrection. And in the Old Testament, there is one place that especially deepened their understanding of Christ’s Passion: the book of Isaiah. More than any other, this book, called the “fifth Gospel” by many of the Church Fathers, was the “go-to” book when it came to comprehending the meaning behind the life of Christ, particularly the crucifixion and the empty tomb.

The climax of Isaiah can be found in the “servant songs” found in Isaiah 42-53. These songs depict a “servant” of the Lord who is faithful and brings salvation to the world through his obedience to God. Before the advent of Christ, many interpreted this “servant” as the people of Israel, but the first Christians saw in the servant a snapshot of their Lord Jesus Christ. And it is especially the fourth servant song, found in Isaiah 52:13-53:12, which reveals Christ’s work on the Cross. Every single word of this passage is quoted in the New Testament, and the first Christians were quite clear about who this servant was:

See, my servant shall prosper, he shall be raised high and greatly exalted.

Even as many were amazed at him– so marred was his look beyond that of man, and his appearance beyond that of mortals–

So shall he startle many nations, because of him kings shall stand speechless; For those who have not been told shall see, those who have not heard shall ponder it.

Who would believe what we have heard? To whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?

He grew up like a sapling before him, like a shoot from the parched earth; There was in him no stately bearing to make us look at him, nor appearance that would attract us to him.

He was spurned and avoided by men, a man of suffering, accustomed to infirmity, One of those from whom men hide their faces, spurned, and we held him in no esteem.

Yet it was our infirmities that he bore, our sufferings that he endured, While we thought of him as stricken, as one smitten by God and afflicted.

But he was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins, Upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole, by his stripes we were healed.

We had all gone astray like sheep, each following his own way; But the LORD laid upon him the guilt of us all.

Though he was harshly treated, he submitted and opened not his mouth; Like a lamb led to the slaughter or a sheep before the shearers, he was silent and opened not his mouth.

Oppressed and condemned, he was taken away, and who would have thought any more of his destiny? When he was cut off from the land of the living, and smitten for the sin of his people,

A grave was assigned him among the wicked and a burial place with evildoers, Though he had done no wrong nor spoken any falsehood.

(But the LORD was pleased to crush him in infirmity.) If he gives his life as an offering for sin, he shall see his descendants in a long life, and the will of the LORD shall be accomplished through him.

Because of his affliction he shall see the light in fullness of days; Through his suffering, my servant shall justify many, and their guilt he shall bear.

Therefore I will give him his portion among the great, and he shall divide the spoils with the mighty, Because he surrendered himself to death and was counted among the wicked; And he shall take away the sins of many, and win pardon for their offenses.

Traditionally, the book of Isaiah has been recommended reading for Lent. I would pass that recommendation on to you: read this “Gospel” and you will more deeply understand and appreciate our Lord and his saving work.