The passage we are reading today is, in fact, no stranger to Christians. At certain times in the church calendar, Isaiah 53 is read to remind us and to connect the suffering endured by the Lord Jesus with something that God had planned from the very beginning. This interpretation is not wrong, but if we wish to be true to the text and place chapter 53 in its proper context, there are in fact many other meanings that can be explored. One of these concerns the value of self-sacrifice in our actions towards our fellow human beings.

Chapter 53 is one of the most famous passages about the Servant of the Lord. There, the Servant of the Lord is described in such dramatic terms. So, who is the Servant of the Lord according to Chapter 53? It is not explicitly stated, but it most likely refers to an individual or to the nation of Israel itself. The main message remains the same: that Israel will be set free, but this time another figure will be involved. This Servant of the Lord is far from the image people have of a saviour. His appearance is not handsome, his physical condition is pitiable, and suffering befalls him. Yet what he experiences is, in truth, the suffering that his people must endure. With complete self-surrender, the Servant of the Lord bears it all. 

The way the Servant of the Lord works is also far removed from the portrayal of heroic deeds of that era. He works and sets the captives free, not through violence but through love, sacrifice and gentleness. Isaiah goes on to describe this servant of the Lord by highlighting the sacrifices he made. He willingly shed his blood for the people whom the Lord loves.

If we truly reflect on the explanation above, what we can learn from the work of the servant of the Lord is the value of his sacrifice. Those who lead and are responsible for a community must be willing to make sacrifices for the people they lead. This is a quality of character that reflects the character of God Himself. How sad it is that today, we see people who claim to be leaders or servants of God, yet do not give the slightest thought to those they lead. Indeed, we have had enough of those who are actually power-hungry, yet claim to care for or be part of the ‘common people’ they lead. May God grant us all the willingness to make sacrifices and strive for the common good.