Isaiah 52:13-15 (KJV)
[13] Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high.
[14] As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:
[15] So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.

I was speaking on the phone with a good friend of mine the other day, and he was telling me how he was imagining what the sufferings of the Lord Jesus were really like. He thought about especially the scourging, and the wounds on the back of his Saviour. My friend said he came to the conclusion that he wasn’t worthy for the Lord Jesus to suffer that much for him.

If we were honest, we would all have to come to that conclusion, in fact we are far less than worthy to have Him suffer so in our place. That day my mind went to this passage, in which we see the sufferings of our Lord Jesus, and His corresponding glory.

This is the first three verses of one of the greatest prophecies concerning our Lord Jesus Christ. It continues through the whole of the following chapter. This prophecy so vividly and accurately describes the life and sufferings of Jesus of Nazareth that the modern day Jew is strongly discouraged from reading this chapter (https://israelmyglory.org/article/the-forbidden-chapter/), in case he will be “led astray” and believe on Jesus as the Messiah.

Verse 13 gives an overview of the whole prophecy, using three different words and ideas to describe the ultimate exaltation of the greatest man in history, the servant of Jehovah. It also tells of how He will eventually prosper, and have the first place in all things.

Colossians 1:18 (KJV)
[18] And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Verse 14 gives us an overview of the depth of His physical disfigurement and sufferings. His face was beaten and bruised, so that He hardly looked like a human being. Many were astonished to see Israel so ill-treated in this world (as many were astonied at Thee), so in the same way they were amazed to see such a spectacle, the Servant of Jehovah so mistreated.

But in verse 15, in the first word, so, we have the corresponding and the equally astounding fact of His exaltation and glory in the midst of the nations of the world.

As many were astonished at His suffering, so will He sprinkle many nations with blessings, and astonish many kings with His power and authority.

They will shut their mouths in the presence and the glorious majesty of the “King of kings,” and see and consider what they had not known before. The beautiful words of Centra Thompson’s hymn are very appropriate here:

Ev’ry mark of dark dishonor
Heaped upon Thy thorn-crowned brow,
All the depths of Thy heart’s sorrow
Told in answering glory now!

“Gazing on Thee, Lord, in Glory” Verse 2 – Centra Thompson

Our response to such a prophecy of the sufferings and glory of our Lord Jesus Christ should be heartfelt and genuine worship, and acknowledge Him as Lord of all.

Philippians 2:9-11 (KJV)
[9] Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
[10] That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
[11] And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Acts 10:36 (KJV)
[36] The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)