Isaiah 53: modern claim that it refers to Israel, not Messiah, is historically novel

Mike argues this is historically backwards. The interpretation that Isaiah 53 refers to Israel is a modern invention, largely promoted in response to Christian evangelism using the passage. Of all ancient rabbis whose writings survive, not one interpreted Isaiah 53 as being about Israel. The vast majority of ancient rabbis understood it as referring to the Messiah. The first recorded hint of a non-messianic reading comes from Origen in the 2nd century, and even he was citing non-authoritative Jews. The 'It's about Israel' interpretation is an anti-messianic apologetic response to the effectiveness of Isaiah 53 in evangelism.