“Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors” (KJV, Is. 53:12).
“Therefore”
The “therefore” found in Is. 53:12 is ultimately a conclusion of Christ’s activity in the whole of the Suffering Servant passage. Within Isaiah 52:13-53:11, Christ is shown as submitting to the will of the Father amid much affliction.
At the outset, Jesus is said to be the Father’s Servant. Christ as the Servant is foundational for the passage and the conclusion in Isaiah 53:12. The Servant was wise, and His wisdom carried Him through many challenges. The exaltation of the Wise Servant is also seen at the start of the Suffering Servant passage (Is. 52:13) and is the climax of Christ’s work. Although Christ came as a Servant, the conclusion was exaltation.
But many events had to transpire first before Christ would be exalted. Christ needed to remain as the Wise Servant of God, or exaltation would never have occurred.
Many would be astonished at the Servant of the Most High because He would be so brutally beaten He would be unrecognizable. Yet, through His death, He would sprinkle many nations with His blood. He would not be given glory and honor while on earth; instead, He would have no majesty to behold. He was truly a Servant. He stooped low and was despised and rejected by men.
Jesus took upon Himself the griefs of man, and He was pierced for the transgressions of mankind. The Father laid on the Son the iniquities of mankind as Jesus was led to the slaughter like a sheep. Jesus fully submitted to the Father’s will, and as a result, one reads, “Therefore.”
“will I divide him a portion with the great”
Therefore God the Father will divide Jesus a portion with the strong. Jesus is pictured as a general winning a major battle. Often after winning battles, the commander of an army would take spoils from war. Scripture says, “Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them” (Ps. 68:18).
Elsewhere Isaiah had said, “Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered? But thus saith the Lord, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children” (Is. 49:24-25). God is a delivering God. He fights for His people. In His conquest, He sent His Commander, the Servant Jesus Christ. Jesus has won the battle and has been exalted.
“and he shall divide the spoil with the strong”
Not only will Jesus be exalted and receive the spoils of war, but the Bible states that Jesus will divide the spoils with His followers. Herein one can see the humility of Christ. Jesus is humble. He was not simply humble before He came to earth. He was not merely humble when He took on flesh and submitted to the Father’s will. He is always humble, even as the King of kings and Lord of lords. He was highly exalted but remained humble.
Moses was a humble man. The Bible says he was the most humble man on earth. However, Moses was exalted as well. Moses parted the sea. He led the army of Israel. He was the mediator between God and man. How was Moses not overcome with pride? How could the Bible declare that Moses was the most humble man on earth?
The secret of Moses’ humility is found in His closeness with God. Although Moses performed terrific feats, He was also close to God. When the Christian is close to God, it will cast away pride and bestow humility. Moses looked upon God on the mount as Isaiah and cried out, “…Woe is me! for I am undone…” (Is. 6:5). So what’s the point?
The point is this, if Moses’ response to God was humility, how much more so is God Himself perfectly humble? Paul has said that when the Christian beholds the glory of God, he is changed into His image. Moses beheld the glory of God on the mount and was transformed into His image. Thus, Moses became humble as God was humble and merely reflected the glory of God. But Moses never came close to the humility of the Savior.
“because he hath poured out his soul unto death”
Yet again, Isaiah tells the reader why the Father has highly exalted the Son. The work of Christ is to be magnified. It is to be adored and cherished. Jesus Christ has poured out His soul unto death. The wording of the text causes one to think about David’s prophetic words. He has said, “I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels” (Is. 22:14).
The affliction of Christ was heavy, and the words of Job touch upon the sufferings of Christ as well. Job has stated, “And now my soul is poured out upon me; the days of affliction have taken hold upon me. My bones are pierced in me in the night season; and my sinews take no rest” (Job 30:16-17).
“and he was numbered with the transgressors”
In His death, Jesus was numbered with the transgressors. Ultimately the words of Isaiah find their fulfillment in Jesus being crucified next to two criminals. The two men next to Jesus were accomplices of Barabbas. Barabbas was placed next to Jesus, and the Jews were made to choose whether to release Barabbas or Jesus. They desired the death of Jesus, so Barabbas, who was a murderer and thief, went free.
But in this short summary of the events that transpired, one can see that Jesus has been put forward to die in place of sinners.
“and he bare the sin of many”
Thus, Jesus took upon Himself the sin of many. The worth of Christ is far greater than one sinner. The worth of Christ is far greater than two sinners. In actuality, the worth of Christ is far greater than the whole of creation. Therefore, the death of one man, Jesus Christ, was sufficient for the world’s sins.
When Jesus died on the cross, He did so as the substitutionary Lamb of God. He took man’s place on the cross and the punishment that man deserved. The Father’s wrath was satisfied through the death of His Son. Thus, atonement was made, and Christ could cry, “…It is finished….” (John 19:30).
“and made intercession for the transgressors”
Jesus loves the lost. In His ministry, He was seen eating with tax collectors and sinners. He called Matthew from a tax booth and forgave Peter for his denial. He gave sight to the blind, speech to the mute, the ability to hear to the deaf, and the ability to walk to the lame. He cast out demons from those who approached Him and healed the leprosy of those who would not respond with gratefulness. He saw the multitudes were hungry, so He fed them because He did not want them to faint along the way.
When Lazarus died, He wept. When the disciples were slow to understand, He was patient. Finally, when He was dying, He prayed. Jesus said, “…Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do…” (Luke 23:34). Jesus made intercession for the transgressors, and the Father heard His plea. The thief on the cross was saved in answer to Jesus’ prayer, as was the centurion who claimed, “…Certainly this was a righteous man” (Luke 23:47). Jesus ever lives to make intercession. He is worthy of exaltation.
Final prayer
Father, I thank You for Your precious Son. He is awesome and wonderful. He is glorious and full of majesty. May His name be highly exalted above the heavens. Teach me to honor Christ in my life as You have honored Him for His. In Jesus’ name, Amen.