Isaiah 53 is often pointed to as a section fulfilled by Jesus in his life and death, and it is one of the strongest fulfillments of Messianic prophecy available.

Critics attempt to show that Jesus did not fulfill certain aspects of Isaiah 53. Here is a response to those objections:

Is. 53:1-2 -- "Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him."
Some argue that there is no indication in the Gospels that Jesus was in anyway unsightly or unattractive. However, this is not what this passage says; it only says that there was nothing that specially attracted attention, which the lack of physical description can only serve to corroborate. They also claim Luke 2:52 asserts Jesus was tall and enjoyed popularity. It says no such thing; it is a standard transition phrase. The word "stature" (helikia) does not imply here that Jesus was tall; it simply means either age or size... "wisdom" (sophia) refers to growth in moral and intellectual life... "grace" (charis) does not imply popularity at all, merely acceptance and favor.

Is. 53:3 "He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not."
Critics point to places in the Gospels where Jesus is well-received. That's all well and good, but such "positive" times were by far outweighed by the negatives. Minimizing the opposition He faced and interpreting the presence of a few followers to mean that Jesus enjoyed broad popular support overlooks the wider narrative.

Is. 53:7 "He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth."
Here the trial of Jesus plainly shows this to have been fulfilled... The key of course is: Was Jesus silent before his accusers? Critics argue that because Jesus answered the charges recorded by Luke 23:2 in his speech to Pilate recorded by John that Jesus therefore was not silent before his accusers. But Pilate was no accuser of Jesus: He was a judge.

Is. 53:8 "He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken."
Some contend the word rendered "prison" (or "oppression") ought to be rendered "dominion". But it is agreed that "oppression" fits better with "judgment" in that the former is used to refer to arrest and imprisonment. Regarding the last phrase, critics argue Jesus' afflictions came about because he pressed his messianic claims, failing to differentiate between the temporal cause of Jesus' afflictions and the ultimate cause or purpose behind them.

Is. 53:9 -- "And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth."
Critics insist the phrases regarding death "are not to be taken literally," pointing to Ezekiel 37. But there is a major genre difference between Ezekiel (apocalyptic vision) and Isaiah (prophetic poetry). They argue an "imposed fate" disqualifies Jesus, but the literal language is "They have assigned..." The concern is what the "assigners" did; what the "assignee" thought is not at issue.

Is. 53:10 -- "Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand."
Critics often offer a less literal, more metaphorical interpretation, viewing it as "inner potential" and spiritual transformation. This appears to be seeking an interpretation to impose upon the passage, relying on anachronistic concepts. Critics also object that "prolongation of days" would be meaningless to an eternal being like Jesus. A typological interpretation is still valid.

Is. 53:12 -- "Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors."
It is asked how this squares with Daniel 9:26 where the Anointed One "will have nothing." Daniel does not say anything about what happens after the events he described; we would assert that Isaiah fills in that gap.