Broadcast
The Lord's Chosen Servant - Part 1
Isaiah 42:1
01/08/2024
1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in
whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon
him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.
(ESV)
Last Saturday the western Church celebrated the Feast of the
Epiphany, the revealing of Jesus as the Savior of the Gentiles as
well as the Jews. For the next several weeks our readings will
focus on Jesus being revealed as both true God and true Man, sent
by our heavenly Father to bear the guilt of our sin.
One of the traditional readings early in the Epiphany season
is the account of Jesus' baptism in the Jordan River by John the
Baptizer. Here the three Persons of the Trinity are present as
Jesus is anointed with water to take upon Himself the sins of the
world.
The Old Testament lesson for this week, from the forty-
second chapter of Isaiah, introduces the Servant of the Lord, a
prophesy about Jesus. As in the accounts of Jesus' baptism,
Isaiah speaks of the Trinity.
Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my
soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will
bring forth justice to the nations.
When Jesus was baptized, the Father said from heaven, ``This
is my beloved Son, with whom I am will pleased,'' and the Holy
Spirit descended upon Jesus in the form of a dove.1 Jesus would
bring justice and righteousness to the nations by bearing the
sins of all people. Yet He brings salvation, not by force, but
by gentle invitation. ``Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is at
hand,'' we heard both from John the Baptizer and Jesus, Himself.
The Kingdom He brings is of God's love, the gift of forgiveness
and eternal life.
May our Lord grant that we see in Jesus the Servant of the
Father who is revealed to us through the working of the Holy
Spirit. Amen.
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1. Matthew 3:16-17