Who Is Jesus?

Isaiah 42:1-3 “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations. 2 He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. 3 A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; 4 he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his law the islands will put their hope.”
 
THE prophet’s – God’s – tone changes as we move into what is called the Servant Songs – chapters 42-55. We have been reading of God’s promise to care for Israel and ultimately the church in Isaiah 41. Now comes the personal way he will do so. Isaiah reveals the character of the Messiah to come. Of course, he is the one we know as Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God. Who is Jesus?
 

1.  Here is my servant – Jesus is the Father’s obedient servant. John 5:19 Jesus gave them this answer: “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.” In the Hebrew language, this word refers to a slave who is humble and submissive to the master. Jesus will be as a slave to the Father to serve humanity.
2. The chosen one in whom (he) delights. And the Father will uphold the Messiah: Matthew 3:17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
   
3. I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations. The Father empowers Jesus with the Holy Spirit to fulfill God’s will. Luke 4:14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.
4. He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. Jesus did not clamor for attention, but he spoke in gentleness and patience to his own.
5. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. Jesus is tender to the weak and needy. Rather than break them, he will heal those who receive him. He will not snuff out those close to losing faith, but stir in them a love for God. John 8:11 “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
6. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice. Jesus obeyed and fulfilled God’s law. Matthew 3:15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.”
7. He will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his law the islands will put their hope. Jesus began a new covenant of hope as we come to faith in him. 2 Corinthians 3:3 You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

    May you know Jesus, the righteous servant, obedient to the Father, so you will have life.
 
Here is a prayer from a pastor in Uganda: O Lord, direct our steps this day into the way of peace, and strengthen our hearts to obey your commandments. May the Dayspring visit us from on high, and give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, that they may adore you for your mercy, follow you for your truth, desire you for your sweetness, for you are the blessed Lord God of Earth, now and forever. Amen.