Isaiah 52:14-15
"As many were astonied at thee; His visage was so marred, more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men: So shall He cleanse many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at Him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider" Isaiah 52:14,15. The term "astonied" (Hebrew Shamem) means literally "like a stone", or "petrified."
Isaiah paints a tremendously horrific word picture. The person described is so disfigured that those who see Him are petrified. What they are hearing and seeing is indescribably graphic, and never before seen in all history. The Hebrew word translated "visage" (mar'eh) is ordinarily used to describe a beautiful face, but now that face had been "marred" (literally "corrupted") more than any other had ever experienced. His face and body had been so cruelly tortured that He no longer even looked human. But who has been treated like this? "...My Servant" (Isaiah 52:13). The Holy Son of Man has been so beaten and tortured that He was no longer recognizable. He was not only suffering for human sin, He became sin personified "For He has made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him."
(2 Corinthians 5:21).
Why? It is because "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:6). The verb "laid on" indicates a crushing, shattering pummeling. We see, however, its triumphant outcome: "He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied: by His knowledge shall My Righteous Servant justify many; for He shall bear their iniquities." (Isaiah 53:11).
After shedding His blood as an offering for sin, He was lifted up to heaven, and seated at the right hand of God. All who believe and receive Him as Lord and Savior will join Him for all eternity! (John 1:12).
Dr. Henry M. Morris, Ph.D.
Passion of the Cross Bible Study
