Jesus from Rabbinic Sources – Suffering Servant: Midrash Rabbah

The Midrash Rabbah contains powerful ancient interpretations that apply the Suffering Servant prophecy of Isaiah 53 directly to the Messiah. These rabbinic texts describe the Messiah enduring great suffering, rejection, and affliction for the sake of Israel’s redemption — themes that closely parallel the New Testament portrayal of Jesus as the suffering Messiah.

The Midrash Rabbah proclaims the Suffering Servant is Messiah.
Midrash Rabbah on Ruth 2:14: He is speaking of the King Messiah: “Come hither” draw near to the throne and “dip thy morsel in the vinegar,” this relates to the chastisements as it is said, “But he was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities.”

Midrash Tanhuma, Parasha Toldot, (end of section), states:  “Who art thou, O great mountain?” (Zech. 4:7) This refers to King Messiah. And why does he call him the “great mountain?” Because he is greater than the patriarchs, as it is said, “My servant shall be high, and lifted up, and lofty exceedingly.” He will be higher than Abraham who said, “I raise high my hand unto the Lord” (Gen. 14:22), lifted up above Moses, to whom it is said, “Lift it up into thy bosom” (Num. 11:12), loftier than the ministering angels, of whom it is written, “Their wheels were lofty and terrible” (Ezek. 1:18). And out of whom does he come forth? Out of David.

Jewish educator Herz Homberg (1749-1841) states: According to Ibn Ezra, it relates to Israel at the end of their captivity. But if so, what can be the meaning of the passage, “He was wounded for our transgressions?” Who was wounded? Who are the transgressors? Who carried out the sickness and borne the pain? The fact is that it refers to the King Messiah.

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