1. Review and Introduction to Isaiah 53

Read Isaiah 52:13–53:3. In light of what you discussed last week, what is being revealed and promised in these verses?

• What expectations are being challenged in this portrayal of the Servant? How is he described, and what might that tell us about God’s way of working?

2. The Messiah and Our Expectations

In the Gospel accounts, it’s clear that people didn’t expect the Messiah to suffer, die, or rise from the dead. Yet Jesus believed this was exactly what Scripture had foretold.

• How have you typically understood Jesus’ death and resurrection?
• Have you seen Jesus’ death as a tragic defeat reversed by the resurrection, or as a necessary part of his saving mission?
• Do you think of Good Friday as truly good? Why or why not?

3. Sin, Suffering, and the Need for Salvation

• What is sin, according to Scripture? How does it relate to the suffering, brokenness, and pain we experience in life?
• Why is this connection between sin and suffering essential for understanding the meaning and depth of salvation?

4. The Servant’s Suffering and Our Salvation

Read Isaiah 53:4–9. What is being promised here?

• What does the Servant receive through his suffering, and what do we receive?
• How does the image of the Servant as “a lamb led to the slaughter” reveal how sin is dealt with?
• In what way does this passage suggest that sin is being overturned or undone?

5. Resurrection Foretold and Fulfilled

Read Isaiah 53:10–12. How do these verses show that the Servant’s suffering leads to life—not just for himself, but for many?

• What do these verses reveal about God’s intention in the Servant’s suffering?
• How do they anticipate resurrection? How does resurrection flow naturally from his sacrifice rather than being a reversal of his death?

6. Living in Light of the Cross and Resurrection

How does Jesus’ death and resurrection actually affect your life?

• What does it mean for your struggle with sin and your experience of suffering?
• How does it shape your sense of hope, especially in seasons of pain or hardship?