Isaiah 53:6-7
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent…
Isaiah, in his prophetic exposition of the suffering servant, uses an interesting play of words in this portion of Scripture. He uses the metaphor of sheep to describe both us and the Messiah. For us, we were as gullible as sheep are and were consequently led astray. Yet, rather than suffer the consequence of our foolishness, God laid on Him (herein referring to the Messiah) the iniquity of us all. For the Messiah, the sheep analogy is used to describe the silence of the sheep in the face of danger and pain. This idea of silence speaks of the submissive nature of sheep.
Our Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled this prophecy when, towards the end of his life, he stood before the rulers. He was being led to the slaughter, yet He did so without a murmur. Even when they questioned Him, He dared not open His mouth in response. Mark records for us an incidence of His silence, _”And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” But he remained silent and made no answer.”_ (Mark 14:60-61). The creator of all, the all-powerful God stood silent before His accusers as though He was helpless before them. Because of His love for us and since it had to be this way, He did not raise any opposition either in His speech or action. We were the sheep that had gone astray, yet He was the lamb that was silently led to the slaughter. Peter both describes Him and exhorts us this way in view of all these:
For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. (1 Peter 2:21-25).
Reflections
1. Are you usually quick to defend yourself when accused? What can you learn from our Lord?
