“HERE IS MY SERVANT” (Outline)
January 10, 2010 -
Epiphany 1 -
ISAIAH 42:1-7
INTRO: During the Epiphany season we are given an insight into the divine nature of God’s Son, Jesus. Jesus’ divinity is revealed by his miracles, healings, and words of truth. The names applied to Jesus also remind us of Jesus’ divinity. Scripture is filled with divine testimony that this son of Joseph and Mary is also God’s Son. We heard and saw divine testimony at the baptism of Jesus (cf. Gospel, below). Jesus took three of his disciples: Peter, James, and John, to a mountain. They saw a glimpse of God’s glory as Jesus was transfigured (changed) before their very eyes. Once again Jesus is revealed to be the very Son of God. "Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: ‘This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!’" (MARK 9:7). Servant is the title Isaiah gives to Jesus. Today we examine our text to discover how this title is also a revelation concerning Jesus’ divinity. God declares:
“HERE IS MY SERVANT”.
I. He will bring justice to the nations.
II. He will be the light for all nations.
I. HE WILL BRING JUSTICE TO THE NATIONS.
A. Verse 1a. Servant is not usually considered a flattering term. In Christianity servant is high praise.
1. Verse 1b. This servant, God’s servant, is highly honored or esteemed by the Lord God.
2. God blesses this servant with every spiritual blessing because this is God’s own Son, Christ.
B. Verse 2. Christ came as a servant – humble, serving, without fanfare. Jesus spoke the truth always.
1. Jesus did not draw attention to himself. God’s power and God’s word attracted great crowds.
2. Verse 3a. Jesus did not break off those bruised nor snuff out any who had a wisp of faith.
C. Verse 3b, 4a. The servant, our savior Jesus did not turn back from going to Jerusalem to face death.
1. The disciples tried to stop Jesus. Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem – and death.
2. Jesus went to Jerusalem to bring God’s justice to the world. God’s justice was forgiveness.
3. Verse 4b. Islands = far away lands. Yes, far away lands, all nations would hope in the Lord.
D. God’s perfect servant came to earth to save imperfect creatures. At first glance that word servant is not a very complimentary term. In fact, one would be hard-pressed to find that word servant printed anywhere or even mentioned in our daily lives. But only by becoming a servant could the King of kings serve God’s creation and do his Father’s will. "Christ Jesus…made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness" (PHILIPPIANS 2:7). Notice that to become a servant Jesus had to take on flesh. Jesus became like us “in human likeness”. Our flesh makes us servants. Thankfully we are servants of God. Our servant, Jesus, our brother, makes us heirs of eternal life.
E. As servant, Jesus brought to this world the justice of God. Now this justice of God differs greatly from the justice of man. The justice of God reveals his infinite, divine mercy. "For men are not cast off by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men" (LAMENTATIONS 3:31-33). Note that the love of the Lord is unfailing. Our Lord God Almighty shows compassion. Still, in this world there is heartache, grief, affliction, troubles, sorrows, and sin. This is not the fault of God at all. All evil in this world is the fault of man. Adam and Eve sinned. They brought everything wicked into perfection.
F. In spite of our wicked and sinful lives the Lord God Almighty shows his justice – forgiveness. We do not deserve God’s forgiveness. We cannot earn or buy the forgiveness of God. Yet, still, God forgives. This is the justice God provides sinners. "He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities"(PSALM 103:9,10). The servant, our Savior Jesus took upon himself all of our sins. Jesus took them to the cross and then to the grave. Our sins are forever forgotten by the life, death, and resurrection of the servant, our Savior.
“HERE IS MY SERVANT”.
This servant, our Savior Jesus Christ brings us God’s justice, forgiveness.
II. HE WILL BE THE LIGHT FOR ALL NATIONS.
A. Isaiah now reminds his hearers that these words are not his but they are the words of the Lord.
1. Verse 5. The Lord God is the One who created the world and all things.
2. The Lord God gave life to all creation. God put the very breath into every living thing.
B. Verse 6a. The very Lord God who created all things is the very same Lord God now with his servant.
1. God is with his servant, his Son, Jesus. Jesus was divinely protected his entire earthly life.
2. Verse 6b. The servant fulfilled the covenant promise to Israel. A Savior would come.
3. The servant became a fulfillment of God’s promise to all nations. “A light for the Gentiles”.
C. Verse 7. Isaiah uses physical examples to make clear the depth of meaning of the spiritual truths.
1. Jesus opened blind eyes so they could see. The spiritual blind also came to the light.
2. Jesus freed people from their physical disabilities. No longer were believers prisoners of sin.
3. The very servant-light of the world overcame the dark dungeon of the influence of Satan.
D. Light, being able to see, and not imprisoned are all comforting and encouraging words. Today many still walk in the dark. Why? John in his Gospel said: “Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of the light”. Such is the wickedness that lives in us in our sinful nature. We live in an age of advanced technology. At times this technology stands in the way of recognizing and believing in God as God. Man tends to look at himself as being far more important than he really is. All too many feel that man is responsible for changing the climate of the entire planet. That sounds very, very self-centered. All too many trust in technology to get out of all kinds of trouble when it cannot. A GPS sys-tem will not dig anyone out of a snowdrift. "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God" (2 CORIN-THIANS 4:4). All too often “the god of this age” tries to blind us from seeing the glory of Christ in God. Our world would have us worry about the weather, health care, social security, or unemployment more than trusting in God. The darkness of this world still tries to deceive.
E. We might fail to see the full importance of the depth of the meaning of Jesus’ words concerning light. In the time of Jesus light was a valuable commodity. No one lit lamps in the middle of the day. At night the small oil lamps only provided a flickering light. "When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life’" (JOHN 8:12). The servant, our Savior Jesus, brings his light to all nations to scatter the darkness.
F. We believe in God and his word by grace. Grace is God’s undeserved love for us. God’s grace gives us eternal life. God’s grace opens our eyes, frees us from captivity, and releases us from the dark dungeon. "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death" (ROMANS 8:1,2). We no longer serve sin and Satan. Instead we say “no” to sin. We say, “get behind me” to Satan. For us the servant, our Savior Jesus has conquered sin, Satan, and even death. We are given God’s light by grace.
CONC.: We still might have a hard time adjusting to the fact that the word servant is not bad but good. Even Jesus’ disciples argued among themselves who was greater. "Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave--just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for man"(MATTHEW 20:26-28). God’s Son came as a servant to save us. What joy is ours when God says, “HERE IS MY SERVANT! The servant, our Savior, brings justice – forgiveness. By grace our Savior brings us light. May we serve as God’s light in our very dark world. Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
EPIPHANY 1 rdgs:
1 SAMUEL 16:1-13;
TITUS 3:4-7;
LUKE 3:15-17,21,22;
(PSALM 2)
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