Isaiah Saw Whose Glory? John 12:41

"Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory, and spoke about him." (John 12:41)

Many assume that John 12:41 is citing Isaiah 6:1 and therefore conclude that Jesus is Yahweh. But in context John is referring to other passages in Isaiah that prophesy about the glory of the servant of Yahweh. Immediately before John 12:41, John quotes Isaiah 53:1 and 6:10, which means that:

“Isaiah said these things (Isaiah 53:1; 6:10) because he saw his [Messiah’s] glory and spoke of him.”

It is clear that this is a reference to the human servant of Yahweh, not to another Yahweh. Elsewhere this same figure is called “the branch of Yahweh” (Isa 4:2), who “grows up like a young plant before Yahweh” (53:2), bears the sins of many, and is the one whom Yahweh Himself causes to suffer (53:2, 6). So that Yahweh shares His glory with this especially chosen human servant, just as He can share titles such as “god” in an agentival way (Ps 45:6).

Jesus understood this well, speaking of the one and the same “glory” he shares with his God and Father as His servant, the unique human “Son of Man” figure from Daniel 7 (cp. Matthew 16:27; 25:31). And later, 1 Peter 1 explains:

10 About this salvation, the prophets who prophesied the grace that would come to you searched and investigated diligently.

11 They were seeking to know what person or time the Messianic spirit in them was pointing to when predicting the sufferings destined for Messiah, and the glories to come after.

12 To them it was revealed that they were serving not themselves but you in these things, which have now been announced to you through those who preached the Gospel to you by the holy spirit sent from heaven — things angels long to peer into.