Some among the Jews, distinguishing this passage from what precedes it, strive to attribute it solely to Isaiah, suggesting he received divine guidance on how to encourage the lost and transition them to salvation. Like a student hearing from a teacher each morning, he listened to the Holy Spirit’s instruction and did not defy His command. When the Lord inquired, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” he responded, “Here am I, send me” (Isaiah 6:8). For speaking the Lord’s word, “Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom; give ear to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah” (Isaiah 1:10), he faced numerous adversities, suffering not only verbal ridicule but also horrific beatings. Yet, knowing this was God’s command, he feared not. As Ezekiel notes, “Behold, I have made your face strong against their faces, and your forehead hard against their foreheads” (Ezekiel 3:8-9), he withstood all their assaults.
Those who attempt to negate the prophecies concerning Christ, offering distorted interpretations, suggest that if these words refer to Isaiah, they might manipulate other clear affirmations about Christ that illuminate the truth for all. Hence, this too is appropriately related to the Lord, through whom the prior scripture concluded. From the moment of the Incarnation, He was tutored and endowed with words of wisdom, learning when to speak and when to remain silent. The Silent One during His suffering now speaks through the apostles and other foundational leaders, distributing knowledge to provide for the ministers at the right moment, applying it effectively to the hearts of listeners.
The Apostle Paul, addressing those who lacked confidence in the prophets, used their own authors as witnesses: “For in Him we live and move and have our being,” as your own poets have said (Acts 17:28). He also quoted the comic, asserting that "bad company corrupts good character" (1 Corinthians 15:33), and included the judgment of Epimenides: “The Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons” (Titus 1:12). Although these phrases may not conform to metrical structure in translation, it is important to recognize their poetic form in Greek. He shared these truths because he had received the gift of teaching, enabling him to discern when to offer a word.
He was gifted an ear of grace that went beyond mere physical senses, which speaks to the need for us to develop spiritual ears, as the Lord proclaimed, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear” (Luke 8:8). This understanding and revelation opened His ears, leading Him to remain obedient unto death, even death on a cross (Philippians 2), delivering His body to wounds and withstanding many strikes to His sacred chest while not turning away from the vile insults hurled at Him. He endured mistreatment from the high priest’s servant, with the Jewish crowd hurling accusations against Him. He was beaten and spat upon, yet He remained unashamed, likened to a lamb led to slaughter and a sheep before its shearers, remaining silent.
We learn from the Gospel how the Son, through the mystery of the Incarnation, received from the Father the words to speak, as He declared, “The Father who sent me has given me a command, what I should say and what I should speak” (John 12:49). He further emphasized, “I can do nothing by myself; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but Him who sent me” (John 5:30).
THEOSIS