Isaiah 53: Suffering Servant
Gerald Sigal
Question: How can Christians apply the phrase v'ayn lo, "he has nothing" or
"he shall have nothing" (Daniel 9:26) and Isaiah 53:12, where the suffering
servant receives "a portion with the great," to Jesus?
Answer: One needs to understand that both references, when read in the
context of Christian theology, refer to Jesus after his death and supposed
resurrection: Daniel 9:26 referring to after he is "cut off" and Isaiah
53:12 as a reward for his suffering and death.
Yet, v'ayn lo, "he has nothing" or "he shall have nothing" cannot refer to
Jesus' situation at or after death, if one takes the New Testament
seriously. Christianity claims that unlike mere mortal bodies which decay
after death Jesus rose bodily into heaven, where he sits at the "right hand
of the throne of the Majesty."
V'ayn lo certainly could not refer to a lack of wealth or followers, for
this would not distinguish Jesus from the great majority of the world's
population. One who "has nothing" or "shall have nothing" (Daniel 9:26) does
not receive "a portion with the great" (Isaiah 53:12), does not rise bodily
to heaven (Acts 1:9), and does not sit at the "right hand of the throne of
the Majesty" (Hebrews 8:1). It is precisely with his death that Jesus was
allegedly able to attain his rewards (Philippians 2: 8-9). Therefore, the
application of both verses to Jesus is untenable.
Source:
Jews for Judaism [ http://jewsforjudaism.org/web/faq/faq044a.html ]
Copyright Gerald Sigal, 1999-2003
--
Machque
"Seek wisdom, not knowledge. Knowledge is of the past, Wisdom is of the
future." Lumbee
"The one who tells the stories rules the world." Hopi
"Sing your death song and die like a hero going home." Shawnee
.
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