By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered…? Isaiah 53:8
These words were fulfilled in the arrest, trial, and sentencing of Jesus.
Jesus was taken away in the Garden of Gethsemane. A large crowd arrived (Mark 14:43). And Jesus was arrested and led away (John 18:12-13).
Jesus was oppressed in the house of the High Priest. He was spit on and struck in the face in what was supposed to be a court of law. Jesus was blindfolded, and then He was surrounded by guards, who struck Him and said, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?” (Matt. 26:67-68).
By judgment Jesus was taken away. Although the death of Jesus was a judicial process, He was denied justice. Pontius Pilate, who was the presiding judge, pronounced that Jesus was innocent. But the crowd called for Jesus to be crucified, and Pilate handed Him over.
Isaiah refers to his generation, the people who were alive at the time of Jesus, and he tells us they did not consider Jesus. Today, we might say, “As for the people who were living at the time, who cared?”
The word considered is the key to understanding this verse, and it raises two important questions. What did people in the time of Jesus fail to consider? What do we need to consider about Jesus today?
Remember, the context of this verse is unbelief. Chapter 53 begins with the verse: “Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?” (53:1). Those who did not believe in Jesus failed to consider certain things about Him.
What are some things your unbelieving friends and relatives fail to consider about Jesus?
