What did Les say Isaiah 53 is a prophetic statement about?
Isaiah 53 is a prophetic statement concerning the work of the cross. The whole chapter points to the crucifixion, though Isaiah himself could not picture the crucifixion when he wrote it. God had him write it so later readers, especially Jewish people, could see the cross was in God's mind all along.
Les teaches that Isaiah 53 as a whole is a prophetic statement concerning the work of the cross. He qualifies it by asking whether Isaiah knew and could picture the crucifixion as he wrote, and answers no; Old Testament believers did not see the cross out in the future either. But God had Isaiah write this so that after the fact people could go back to it, especially for the benefit of the Jew, showing from the Old Testament that God had the work of the cross in mind all the time. He then reads Isaiah 53:4, which speaks of the Servant bearing griefs and carrying sorrows, and being esteemed stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted when He was crucified.
Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.