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〃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。
〃He was oppressed； and He was afflicted； Yet He opened not His mouth： He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter； And as a sheep before her shearers is dumb； So He openeth not His mouth。
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〃He was taken from prison and from judgment： And who shall declare His generation？ For He was cut off out of the land of the living： For the transgression of My people was He stricken。
〃And He made His grave with the wicked； And with the rich in His death； Because He had done no violence； Neither was any deceit in His mouth。〃 Isaiah 53：1…9。
Of the suffering Saviour Jehovah Himself declared through Zechariah； 〃Awake； O sword； against My Shepherd； and against the Man that is My Fellow。〃 Zechariah 13：7。 As the substitute and surety for sinful man； Christ was to suffer under divine justice。 He was to understand what justice meant。 He was to know what it means for sinners to stand before God without an intercessor。
Through the psalmist the Redeemer had prophesied of Himself：
〃Reproach hath broken My heart； And I am full of heaviness： And I looked for some to take pity； But there was none； And for comforters； But I found none。 They gave Me also gall for My meat； And in My thirst they gave Me vinegar to drink。〃 Psalm 69：20； 21。
Of the treatment He was to receive； He prophesied； 〃Dogs have compassed Me： the assembly of the wicked have enclosed Me： they pierced My hands and My feet。 I may tell all My bones： they look and stare upon Me。 They part My garments among them； and cast lots upon My vesture。〃 Psalm 22：16…18。
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These portrayals of the bitter suffering and cruel death of the Promised One； sad though they were； were rich in promise； for of Him whom 〃it pleased the Lord to bruise〃 and to put to grief； in order that He might become 〃an offering for sin；〃 Jehovah declared：
〃He shall see His seed； He shall prolong His days； And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand。 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。 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。〃 Isaiah 53：10…12。
It was love for sinners that led Christ to pay the price of redemption。 〃He saw that there was no man； and wondered that there was no intercessor；〃 none other could ransom men and women from the power of the enemy； 〃therefore His arm brought salvation unto him； and His righteousness； it sustained him。〃 Isaiah 59：16。
〃Behold My Servant； whom I uphold； Mine Elect； in whom My soul delighteth； I have put My Spirit upon Him： He shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles。〃 Isaiah 42：1。
In His life no self…assertion was to be mingled。 The homage which the world gives to position； to wealth； and to talent； was to be foreign to the Son of God。 None of the means that men employ to win allegiance or to command
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homage； was the Messiah to use。 His utter renunciation of self was foreshadowed in the words：
〃He shall not cry； Nor lift up； Nor cause His voice to be heard in the street。 A bruised reed shall He not break； And the smoking flax shall He not quench。〃 Verses 2； 3。
In marked contrast to the teachers of His day was the Saviour to conduct Himself among men。 In His life no noisy disputation； no ostentatious worship； no act to gain applause； was ever to be witnessed。 The Messiah was to be hid in God； and God was to be revealed in the character of His Son。 Without a knowledge of God； humanity would be eternally lost。 Without divine help； men and women would sink lower and lower。 Life and power must be imparted by Him who made the world。 Man's necessities could be met in no other way。
It was further prophesied of the Messiah： 〃He shall not fail nor be discouraged； till He have set judgment in the earth： and the isles shall wait for His law。〃 The Son of God was to 〃magnify the law； and make it honorable。〃 Verses 4； 21。 He was not to lessen its importance and binding claims； He was rather to exalt it。 At the same time He was to free the divine precepts from those burdensome exactions placed upon them by man； whereby many were brought to discouragement in their efforts to serve God acceptably。
Of the mission of the Saviour the word of Jehovah was： 〃I the Lord have called Thee in righteousness； and will hold Thine hand； and will keep Thee； and give Thee for
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a covenant of the people； for a light of the Gentiles； to open the blind eyes； to bring out the prisoners from the prison； and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house。 I am the Lord： that is My name： and My glory will I not give to another； neither My praise to graven images。 Behold； the former things are come to pass； and new things do I declare： before they spring forth I tell you of them。〃 Verses 6…9。
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Through the promised Seed； the God of Israel was to bring deliverance to Zion。 〃There shall come forth a Rod out of the stem of Jesse； and a Branch shall grow out of his roots。〃 〃Behold； a virgin shall conceive； and bear a Son； and shall call His name Immanuel。 Butter and honey shall He eat； that He may know to refuse the evil； and choose the good。〃 Isaiah 11：1； 7：14； 15。
〃And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him； the Spirit of wisdom and understanding； the Spirit of counsel and might； the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord； and shall make Him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord： and He shall not judge after the sight of His eyes； neither reprove after the hearing of His ears： but with righteousness shall He judge the poor； and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth： and He shall smite the earth with the rod of His mouth； and with the breath of His lips shall He slay the wicked。 And righteousness shall be the girdle of His loins； and faithfulness the girdle of His reins。〃 〃And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse； which shall stand for an ensign of the people； to it shall the Gentiles seek： and His rest shall be glorious。〃 Isaiah 11：2…5； 10。
〃Behold the Man whose name is the Branch； 。 。 。 He shall build the temple of the Lord； and He shall bear the glory； and shall sit and rule upon His throne； and He shall be a priest upon His throne。〃 Zechariah 6：1