Isaiah 53:1
Who has believed our report?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

These words begin one of the most memorable chapters in Isaiah.
What follows is a prophetic picture of a suffering Savior.
The first verse quickly reveals the lack of belief in the Messiah.
No one wants a Savior that is so weak mere men kill Him.
No one desired a Savior that seemed more man than God.

He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. Isaiah 53:2

There is nothing special about this Messiah’s appearance that draws people to Him. He’s not majestic looking. His looks do not make Him stick out in a crowd.

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. Isaiah 53:3

Isaiah predicts the rejection, the sorrow, the grief of this Man. People are ashamed of Him and hide their faces.

Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. Isaiah 53:4

Wait! Don’t you want someone to take away your grief and sorrow?
That’s exactly what I want! Someone to carry the burden from me. Instead of embracing this concept, people saw this man cursed with our grief and sorrows.
Indeed, He took the our curse upon Himself!

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. Isaiah 53:5

Who would not want that?
I do not understand the problem with this Messiah. I like Him! Anyone willing to do all this for me is okay in my book!

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 53:6

Again, no problem in my viewpoint. God laid my iniquity on Him so I have His righteousness on me.

So far I have no problem with this view of the Messiah. I despise that He had to do all these things for someone like me but I’m glad He did!