In the preceding verses of chapter 53 the voice which speaks is the remnant of Israel; it is their confession of Christ in a future day. Now the prophecy continues, but it is the prophet himself who is speaking—it is not a confession but a description. In verses 7 and 8, Isaiah describes the trial of Christ before the court of man and His character as a lamb.

Messiah was brought before the judgment bar of man, but it was an illegal proceeding according to Jewish law. It was a rigged court replete with false witnesses, and with a predetermined outcome. He was “oppressed” because this was an unjust trial, even according to man’s sinful standards. He was also “afflicted”—the root meaning of the word is “browbeaten”—they berated and mocked the Lord of glory. Then He was brought before the Gentile governor, Caesar’s representative in Judea. Pilate “marveled” at the silence of Christ and His quietness in face of multiple accusations (Mk. 15:3–5). “Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?” The noble but solemn response was, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above” (Jn. 19:10–11). What calmness and dignity! It greatly unnerved the pagan governor.

Messiah’s silence would be like an innocent, submissive lamb in the hand of the shearer and butcher. Indeed, this Lamb had been foreordained from before the world’s foundation (1 Pet. 1:20); we view Him in the firstborn of Abel’s flock (Gen. 4:4); in the lamb which God would provide, as predicted on Moriah’s mountain (22:8); and in the Passover lamb of Exodus. He was the Lamb which would take away the sin of the world (Jn. 1:29).