1: These rhetorical questions are not meant to be answered in the text. Instead, they point out the fact that many will not believe the reports concerning the Christ. Many will miss what the Lord has done. However, though not intended for an answer here, these questions must be answered in the life of every individual. Have you believed in the one who gave himself for you?
2: The idea of a ‘tender plant’ is that he comes from a heritage that seemed to have vanished. Coming from dry ground, he is unexpected. Jesus, though born in Bethlehem, hailed from Nazareth, a place viewed with contempt. Having no especially distinctive traits, or unique circumstances of birth, he goes unnoticed. It must be said here that Jesus is distinctive and unique, and so was his birth. However, the focus here is upon what men would normally expect, and be looking for.
3: Rather than being embraced by the great personages of his day, he was disliked and treated as an outcast. He is a man who knows what it means to experience grief. This can refer to a whole host of things in the life of the Savior. He grew up in a poor family. His earthly father apparently died before he began his preaching ministry. He grieved over the unbelief of others. He endured the suffering of the cross. Rather than looking to him, men tried to hide from him. They did not respect him as they should.
4: Jesus, though God, has experienced the griefs of man. He has born the grief of sin for every man. He has sorrowed to the point of death. And yet, by and large, his own people felt that God was punishing him for his own sin.
5: Jesus was crucified for mankind’s illegal actions. He was crushed for our lawless ways. He was chastised in order to bring peace to our lives. The marks he bears have brought us healing from the plague of sin.
6: Sheep easily wander off. Shepherds have to keep very close watch on them. Like sheep, we willfully wander into danger. God, in his infinite wisdom and mercy, has caused the responsibility for all of our lawlessness, perpetrated during our wanderings, to be laid on Christ.
7: He was mistreated, humiliated, and abused. And yet, he did not speak against it. He is like a lamb, which does not cry out before being butchered. Or, like the same animal when it is being sheared. He did not complain.
8: Jesus was arrested, put on trial, sentenced to death, and then ‘taken’ to be crucified. Again we find a rhetorical question. It is asked concerning the spiritually blind generation of people that Jesus lived among. Once again, it must be answered by all people. Will we fail to consider Christ’s work for us? Will we be blind beyond description like the generation here mentioned? Jesus was cut off from the land of the living. It happened not for his sin, but for the illegal actions of the people.
9: Jesus died while in the company of wicked men. Specifically, he was identified with malefactors, two of which were crucified with him. He was buried in the tomb of the rich Joseph of Arimathaea. In the text, the word ‘rich’ is singular, obviously referring prophetically to this particular rich man. The word ‘because’ must be taken to point out a contrast in the first part of the verse. Normally criminals were not buried in the tombs of the rich. Jesus is because he had never hurt anyone. He was a man of peace. Also, he was not guilty of blasphemy, though accused of such. He was not a deceiver.
10: As Jesus said to Piltate, it was only by God’s permission that any of this was done. The Lord willed it. It has been in the plan to cause Christ to suffer. God caused his grief. God offered him for our sins. It is amazing how many will say that God has done something bad to them. And yet, we do not find these types of actions specifically pointed by God towards anyone but Christ.
Three glorious things now immediately follow. First, Jesus sees his seed, or those who are saved by his sacrifice. Second, it is by this cross work that the resurrection is made possible. He prolongs his days and ours for all eternity. Third, God’s program for the future is laid in his hands. Though his greatest work, this sacrifice is only the beginning of his actions.
11: In other words, Jesus will experience a great trial, and yet be happy to go through it. The phrase ‘his knowledge’ here refers to belief in his word. Though his sacrifice is able to save all, justification comes by faith. Thus, the sins of believers are borne by Christ. The rest will die in their sins.
12: The future of Christ is one of victory. God has exalted him. Jesus deserves all that the Father gives him because he suffered, was condemned, died for us, and even now makes intercession for us.