I. Born to Die (v1-v3)
Isaiah expressed the irony of the how the Messiah will come. He anticipated that many will not believe the Messiah, who will be the savior of mankind and yet has to suffer. The "strong arm" of the Lord was revealed through a poor, humble man, who was unable to overthrow the government, but was subjected to humiliation and death. (v1)
The Messiah grew up like a young plant, as weak as any other man. He did not come from a rich and powerful family, but out of a "dry ground", in the small town of Bethlehem and Nazareth, in a small province of the Roman empire. (v2)
But God can create miracles out of a dry ground. Do not underestimate the uneducated children in many 3rd world countries today. Their redemption is not insignificant - anyone of them can be a powerful lever in moving God's kingdom in ways that the most educated or supported saint cannot.
Physically, there was nothing particular about the Messiah, nor was there anything in His possession that would draw anyone to Him. (v2) Not that He was ugly, but that He did not have the advantage that others may have. He was not a celebrity. Yet, God uses the weak to show His strength, and the foolish to show His wisdom.
The Messiah would live a sorrowful life, not being understood by most of his friends and family members. He owned no property and had no place to lay His head. He was sorrowful for the necessary separation from God - "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
He would be despised and rejected by men for teaching the truth. No man admired Him for His courage of correcting the pharisees. On the day of his death, no one was there to lend him support. How grieved and heartbroken was He, when His best friends all ran away, and even "hide their faces" (v3) and denied Him.
II. Suffering for Us (v4-v9)
Yet His sorrows and griefs were largely for us and for our sakes. He had compassion over those who would be lost due to our own sins. We were like "sheep" that had gone astray. It was in obedience to God did He allowed Himself to be arrested. And yet everyone at that time saw Him as being guilty and punished by God. "Crucify Him" they all shouted, and without protest, he let them lead him to the cross at Calvary.
God turned away His face from His Son as our iniquity was laid upon him. "He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities" (v5)
At no point did he try to defend himself or tried to escape. He knew His destiny was the cross, even from the beginning. After all the wondrous miracles they saw Him perform, His disciples expected some majestic acts from Jesus that will put the enemies to silence. But the only miracle He did was to re-attach the ear of the soldier whom Peter have cut off.
Isaiah implied that He would not have any children, "who shall declare his generation?" (v8). Isaiah even predicted that though he would die with the wicked, he would be buried with a rich man.
It was God's will that Jesus was to suffer and to die, for his soul would become an offering to the guilty. Some may say it is not a big deal for one to die for someone you love - but that is true only because we have to die sooner or later, but Jesus did not have to die nor to be born a human. Furthermore, he died for His enemies - "forgive them Father, for they know not what they do."
II. The Victory of the Servant (v10-v12)
However, He will live again and see his "offspring" - those who believed and received His forgiveness. He will be satisfied seeing us being "accounted righteous" for the sacrifice He went through. It was not in vain, but in victory! (v11)
Even today, He still makes intercession for the transgressors, because He died for them.
