The True Servant Is Revealed

The True Servant is Revealed

Isaiah 42:1–9

NKJV

“Behold! My Servant whom I uphold,

My Elect One in whom My soul delights!

I have put My Spirit upon Him;

He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.

He will not cry out, nor raise His voice,

Nor cause His voice to be heard in the street.

A bruised reed He will not break,

And smoking flax He will not quench;

He will bring forth justice for truth.

He will not fail nor be discouraged,

Till He has established justice in the earth;

And the coastlands shall wait for His law.”

Thus says God the Lord,

Who created the heavens and stretched them out,

Who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it,

Who gives breath to the people on it,

And spirit to those who walk on it:

“I, the Lord, have called You in righteousness,

And will hold Your hand;

I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people,

As a light to the Gentiles,

To open blind eyes,

To bring out prisoners from the prison,

Those who sit in darkness from the prison house.

I am the Lord, that is My name;

And My glory I will not give to another,

Nor My praise to carved images.

Behold, the former things have come to pass,

And new things I declare;

Before they spring forth I tell you of them.”

This Sunday on the Christian calendar is Baptism of the Lord Sunday in which we remember Jesus coming to John for Baptism. It immediately follows the Christian celebration of Epiphany. a celebration which celebrates the opening of the promises of God to the Gentiles (all non-Jews) as it had to the Jews. This was predicted by the prophet Isaiah in several places:

Isaiah 11:10

NKJV

“And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse,

Who shall stand as a banner to the people;

For the Gentiles shall seek Him,

And His resting place shall be glorious.”

Isaiah 9:2

NKJV

The people who walked in darkness

Have seen a great light;

Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,

Upon them a light has shined.

Isaiah 60:1–3

NKJV

Arise, shine;

For your light has come!

And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.

For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,

And deep darkness the people;

But the Lord will arise over you,

And His glory will be seen upon you.

The Gentiles shall come to your light,

And kings to the brightness of your rising.

Isaiah 62:2–3

NKJV

The Gentiles shall see your righteousness,

And all kings your glory.

You shall be called by a new name,

Which the mouth of the Lord will name.

You shall also be a crown of glory

In the hand of the Lord,

And a royal diadem

In the hand of your God.

And in the text we read from Isaiah 42 this morning.

These are not all the texts that could be quoted from Isaiah, no less than that the promise of God would come to the Gentiles in other places into the Old Testament. It can be summed up in Matthew 12:21 “And in His name Gentiles will trust.”” Matthew is often claimed as the Gospel given to “Jewish” believers in Christ. This is quite erroneous. Matthew quotes promises which are given to the Gentiles often. The Genealogy of Jesus emphasizes several Gentile women who were ancestors to the promised Christ. There is no narrative about the presentation and circumcision of Jesus. Matthew emphasizes baptism and not circumcision. Jesus was circumcised as all Israelites were. And Jesus was presented in the Temple which was also required. Luke, which was supposedly written to the Gentiles includes these events. But Matthew, instead. has the coming of the three Magi bringing gifts to the infant Jesus. Jesus also command in the Great Commission to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles and make disciples of them. So the great promise from Isaiah 42 this morning must be understood in this light, that Isaiah’s message, even though it fully includes native Israelites is equally a promise to all nations. Believing Israelites do not lose their privileges given to believers. Rather the same privilege is granted to all nations. So when Jesus comes to Jordan to be baptized, he is being revealed as the promised servant of the LORD who comes to save all who believe on Him.

Jesus Himself pointed out that all of Scripture testifies of Him. John 5:39

John 5:39

NKJV

You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.

Here we see that the testimony of Scripture to Jesus is the means of eternal life.

Luke 24:25–27

NKJV