Fifth, Isaiah. Isaiah 53 is not prophesying about the Messiah. Isaiah 52 is but not 53. The Jews only have 16 messianic prophesy in the entire OT.
Here’s where things are very tricky. Isaiah 53 was most likely accepted as a Messianic Prophecy but is now rejected among Jews. The problem with Isaiah 53 is it so obviously points to Jesus, so now Jews must reject it. The same goes for Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”
The Jews say that Almah can and should be translated as young woman, however based on Matthew’s translation of the Septuagint the word is translated to, “virgin.” A Christian apologist can argue that a young woman having a son and naming him “God with us” is not really a big deal. A
virgin giving birth however is a very big deal. That’s why the Bible says, “The Lord will give you a sign.” And clearly states the boys name will be, “God with us.” IE: Jesus. My point here is that Jews will in no way accept the translation, “virgin” 2000 years after Christ’s birth, because it would be an argument in favor of Christianity.
But back to Isaiah 53 on this point. Can I prove that Isaiah 53 was probably a Messianic Prophecy? Well, the Muslim fellow said it himself that, “Isaiah 52 was, but 53 isn’t.” Here we have a slight problem. How does one know when Isaiah 52 ends and 53 begins? The books were put into chapters (and verses) much later. Let’s see how Isaiah 52 ends:
13 See, my servant will act wisely;
he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.
14 Just as there were many who were appalled at him
his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being
and his form marred beyond human likeness
15 so he will sprinkle many nations,
and kings will shut their mouths because of him.
For what they were not told, they will see,
and what they have not heard, they will understand.
Immediately the Muslim’s claim falls flat, as they don’t believe Jesus could have possibly been marred beyond human likeness or His appearance disfigured beyond that of any human being. Let’s go back to Isaiah 53 and watch how well 52 flows into it:
Who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by mankind,
a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
Notice how well 52 flows into 53?
More coming…
