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We should reflect the character of Christ
The Jewish Interpretation: The Character of the Servant of the Lord While the Jews of Isaiah's day were looking for a messiah who would be the "king," they would not have been surprised by the prophet calling him the "servant." In many contexts, a servant wields great power. A "prime minister" is a head of state. A "minister of defense" or "secretary of defense" has his hands on a great arsenal of weapons. So verse one comes as no surprise. But as verses two through four tell us, this servant of the lord would be a different kind of ruler with a different brand of justice. Rather than a big campaign with big campaign promises, the servant will humbly and quietly exercise his ministry. Instead of looking down on the lowly and dashing their hopes, he will lift them up and give them the best. When opposition confronts this meek and mighty servant, he will plough right through until his mission is accomplished. Just what is this mission of this servant? Verses five through nine tell the tale. He is Jehovah's appointed and anointed messenger of a new covenant. He will not enthrone the old covenant just for the Jews, but will offer a "new deal" of righteous justice for every nation on earth. This new deal will be the cure for spiritual blindness, spiritual darkness and spiritual death. It will make people praise and glorify God. It will bury the bad things of the past and will make all things infinitely, perfectly, new. The Christian Explanation: The Character of the Lord Jesus Christ As John the Baptist baptized the Lord Jesus Christ, "a voice came out of heaven, 'You are my beloved son, in you I am well-pleased." Compare this event with the prophecy of Isaiah 42:1 and you have the exact identity of "the servant of the lord." He is the Lord Jesus Christ, the one beloved of the father, the one anointed with the spirit, the one who will bring ultimate righteousness and justice to all peoples. Jesus was not a campaigner nor a crybaby, "not a flatterer or a fawner." He was bold to the powerful and hypocritical, yet he was tender to the poor and the meek. He came to this planet when real religion was at its lowest ebb and "He ignited a great flame from this little spark." Though criticized and cursed by many, he did not let that discourage him or stop him from accomplishing his ministry. Jesus was determined to get to Jerusalem to "establish justice in the earth." This justice, of course, was not meted out in congress, or in a courtroom, but upon the cross. The cross is the place where justice and righteousness meet. The cross is the place where the suffering servant died to establish a new covenant with his blood. The cross is where a blind man can begin to see and a prisoner can be set free. The cross promotes repentance from false gods and the praise and glory of the true and living God. And all of this is because of the perfect character, the perfect plan, the perfect justice and the perfect love of God embodied in the servant of the Lord, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Personal Application: The Character of the disciple of Jesus Christ If you believe the Bible you will truly be saved. If you are saved you will truly behave according to biblical teaching. If you have been saved by grace through faith in the servant of the Lord, then you, too, will be a servant of the Lord. Christians are especially loved and anointed by God. I love all people, but I have a special love for my wife and family. I try to be a giving person but there are certain things I will only give to them. God's common grace is for all people, but his saving grace is for his people, and he gives them his spirit, to empower them to worship and serve his son, Jesus Christ. Christians exhibit the character of Christ. We should not be a cackle of critics and complainers like so many in the modern church. We should not shoot our wounded or step on people when they are down. And we cannot quit when others try to do these things to us. We are called and commanded to holy, helpful, hard workers for Christ's kingdom. Christians carry on the ministry of the gospel. We are all ministers of the new covenant which has the power to make all things new. We bear the gospel with our lives and share the gospel with our lips, which is the greatest service we can ever render to God and our fellow man. God is glorified when his promises are fulfilled. When we are people of good character who keep our promises to one another, we have power to share the good news which will bring other people to the ultimate promise of God, salvation by grace through faith in the servant of the Lord, the Lord Jesus Christ.
This prophecy of Isaiah is all about the character of the servant of the lord. Character is a person and a possession. Character is who he is, and what you are if you know him. Character is what you are when nobody is looking and when everybody is looking, and it is supposed to be the same. For Christ is the same, yesterday in Isaiah, today in the gospels, and forever in heaven. Trust in the servant of the Lord and you will be a servant of the lord, today and forever.
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