The Opposing Definitions of the “Messiah” in the Book of Isaiah

In the Book of Isaiah, there are two written definitions of the role of the biblical “Messiah.”  The differences in these definitions caused the split between Judaism and Christianity.  The dissimilarities also may have been the reasoning behind Jesus’ sentencing and death. The two chapters that contain the contradicting images of the Messiah are Isaiah 41 and Isaiah 53.
Isaiah 41 describes the Messiah as a great political leader. It is written in the Old Testament that the Messiah will be a defender of righteousness, who “delivers the nations, subdues the kings; [and] with his sword he reduces them to dust” (Isaiah 41:2).  Isaiah 41 also continues to explain that the Messiah will cause “the ends of the earth [to] tremble”.  The Messiah, according to these Scriptures, will be a great leader who will conquer all of the enemies of Israel.
Isaiah 53, conversely, describes the Messiah as weak. It is written of the Messiah that, “He grew up like a sapling before him, like a shoot from the parched earth; there was in him no stately bearing to make us look at him, nor appearance that would attract us to him” (Isaiah 53:2).  The Messiah, according to this Scripture, will be a humble, lowly, and submissive individual.  This image of the Messiah is far different from that posed in Isaiah 41.
Isaiah 41 states that the Messiah will destroy all those who threaten the wellbeing of his people while, “passing on without loss” (Isaiah 41:3).  The Scripture explains that the Messiah will triumph over the enemies of Israel in a take-no-prisoner fashion. It is written that the Messiah will cause all those who offer resistance against his people to die (Isaiah 41:11).  This image of the Messiah is one of fearsome power, strength, and force.
In Isaiah 53, the Messiah is described as Jesus was; as a man with great compassion, who saved his people from their own sins.  It is written, “He was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins, upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole, and by his stripes we were healed” (Isaiah 53:5).   The Messiah in Isaiah 53 is described as a savior of his people from their own transgressions. The Scriptures state that the Messiah will be condemned and will be assigned a grave among the wicked and “a burial place with evildoers, though he had done no wrong nor spoken any falsehood” (Isaiah 53:9).
The individual who will be Messiah, according to Isaiah 53, will be of a submissive, compassionate, and modest nature.  He will act as a servant of his people.  This image of the Messiah contrasts that of the Messiah in Isaiah 41.  Both are leaders, but in different ways. The Messiah of Isaiah 41 is a physical and political leader, while the Messiah of Isaiah 53 is a leader of the spiritual realm.
During the time of Jesus, these two definitions of the Messiah caused a split within the Jewish community.  Some Jews agreed with the first definition, while others were more in favor of the second.  The second definition defined Jesus, as he was, a gentle and caring savior of sins.  The first did not. The Jewish men and women who agreed with the first definition, in Isaiah 41, did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah and executed him because of their belief.  Today, the Jewish individuals who chose to follow Jesus are known as Christians.  The majority of those who remained Jewish are still waiting for their Messiah, the great political leader, as described in Isaiah 41.