THE SUPREME SERVANT

“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.  ‎(Isaiah 42:1)

Jesus is the supreme servant—the model for all who are on mission for God; the only perfect pattern for Kingdom work.  Isaiah paints His portrait prophetically in chapter 42.

Here we see the MANNER of the Supreme Servant (v.1-4).  Though equal with the Father, the Son would take the role of the Servant in submission to the Father’s will.  He came to this world to accomplish His Father’s assignment.  His life on earth was not about asserting His position, but accomplishing His work.  He was the King who stooped to serve.  He ever brought delight to the Father, as we hear God say at both Christ’s baptism and transfiguration, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”  Pleasing His Father was His passion—and He did that flawlessly.  His relationship with the Father was mirrored in His relationship with the Spirit—the harmony of the Trinity evident in the incarnation.  He was conceived of the Spirit, continually filled with the Spirit, and empowered by the Spirit for ministry.  Jesus lived as Man to show men how man was meant to live.  He was not boastful or boisterous.  Jesus was tender in His dealings with others and tenacious in His duties to God.

Next, we note the MINISTRY of the Supreme Servant (v.5-9).  His absolute love for the Father in the vertical dimension was mirrored in His manifest love for others in the horizontal relationship.  He had come to bring righteousness to the unrighteous that sinners might be accepted by a Holy God.  He would establish the New Covenant in His blood.  The Jews had failed to keep the Old Covenant, but Jesus would fulfill it, and in doing so would bring Israel into the blessings of the New.  Not only would Jews receive this grace, but Gentiles as well, as Jesus would bring them out of the darkness into the light.  Eyes blind to the truth would be opened by His teaching.  Souls held in bondage to Satan would be liberated by His power.  The glory of the invisible God would become visible in Him.  “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:18).

We further observe the MIGHT of the Supreme Servant (v.10-13)  We sing to Him a new song for He had done a new work.  His praise is to be universal because His service extends the offer of salvation for all.  God the Father receives glory from the saints for they have been redeemed by the Servant.  Jesus came as a man to reach men, but as God accomplished that which only God could do.  He was despised, but not defeated.  In His death, He procured the victory.  In His resurrection, He proclaimed the victory.  In His return, He will prevail in victory.  All His foes will be finished!

Jesus set the standard for every servant of God.  Try as we might, however, we frail creatures of flesh will fall short.  There is better news—the Supreme Servant now indwells us!  As He worked in His human body, He works through His body, the church, exhibiting His manner, extending His ministry, and expressing His might!