Christ’s humiliation foretold

That he became a human being for our sake and endured suffering and dishonor, and that he will come again with glory, hear the prophecies spoken about this:

“Because they handed his life over to death and he was counted among the lawless, he himself has taken the sins of many and will make atonement for the lawless. Look, my servant shall understand, and he shall be exalted and greatly glorified. Just as many will be astonished at you, so his appearance shall be without glory among human beings and his glory removed from them; so many nations shall marvel, and kings shall shut their mouths because of him. For those to whom nothing had been announced concerning him, and those who had not heard, shall understand.

“Lord, who has believed what we heard? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? We announced him before him like a child, like a root in thirsty ground. He has no form or glory. We saw him, and he had no form or beauty; rather, his appearance was dishonored and diminished beyond that of human beings. He was a man under affliction and knew how to bear weakness. Because his face was turned away, he was dishonored and was not esteemed.

“He bears our sins and suffers pain for us, yet we considered him to be in suffering, under a blow, and in affliction. But he was wounded because of our lawless deeds and weakened because of our sins. The discipline that brings peace was upon him, and by his bruise we were healed. All of us went astray like sheep; each person wandered in his own way. And he handed him over for our sins. Because he was afflicted, he does not open his mouth. He was led like a sheep to slaughter, and like a lamb silent before the one who shears it, so he does not open his mouth. In his humiliation his judgment was taken away.”

After he was crucified, all his companions withdrew from him, denying him. Later, when he had risen from the dead and appeared to them, he taught them to read the prophecies in which all these things had been foretold as going to happen. They saw him ascending into heaven and believed; they received power sent to them from there by him, went to every race of humanity, taught these things, and were called apostles.