“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
The Lord Jesus Christ is perhaps the greatest anomaly the world has ever known. One of the ways we see Him as such is in the fact that He came as God among us, the Messiah, and Lord. Upon His cross would be written: “King of the Jews.” Mankind did not recognize Him as for such to a great extent, and this because of His humility, meekness, and lowliness. He had laid aside His glory as the King of Kings, and Lord or Lords, to dwell among us, filled with grace and truth. He did so in order to reveal to us, though naturally frightful and fleeing from this Light in the darkness, the truth of Who He was, in order to recognize Him, believe in Him, and be saved from sin and death to the glory of God. Although He was the very essence of God’s fullness, He came as a servant, lowering Himself to be the servant of men, that they might taste and see something of the beauty, and selflessness of Divine Love. He came to save, and this by coming to serve. From the washing of humanity’s feet, to the bearing of all sins on the Cross of Calvary, Christ, the sinless and perfect Servant, and Son, was totally devoted to the Father, and yet, He was the unique, promised One who would come to save us. In that calling as a servant, Christ clothed Himself with humility, lowering Himself to become the servant of men, making Himself perfectly approachable, and accessible, even to the lowliest of us all. So, let us “Behold Him,” by faith, from before the creation of the world, when the Father would choose Him to be the Savior of the world, to the moment when we physically see Him actually on the cross. Charles Wesley’s words are very appropriate here: “Behold Him, all ye that pass by, The bleeding Prince of life and peace! Come, sinners, see your Savior die, And say, ‘Was ever grief like His?’ Come, feel with me His blood applied: My Lord, my Love, is crucified.”
If we would behold this Servant of God, we must first begin by seeing what He was to the Father, His relationship, role, and resources. Isaiah describes Him as belonging to the Father, for God the Father calls Him, “MY Servant.” Christ, in this relationship, was first and foremost the servant of God the Father, His primary allegiance being to Him. Secondly, we see that His calling was set in heaven before creation, for He was “CHOSEN,” or elected to be the perfect, eternal Servant. His relationship with the Father, especially as revealed during his ministry on earth, was both that of a servant and Son. With regard to being the Servant, according to his role, or mission, He never ceased to live to serve and please the Father, and this, by being God’s servant to lost and saved men alike.
How was Christ able to discharge His responsibilities as a Servant in humility, remaining absolutely devoted to His Father, in a world of unbelief? It was because of His anointing by the Spirit. The Father specifically, and emphatically declared: “I have put My Spirit upon Him.” This anointing, the presence and power of the Spirit of God, would be the sufficient, and certain KEY to being all that Christ was called to be and to do. Christ came not to be ministered to, or served, but to minister, even declaring: “I am among you as the One who serves.” (Luke 22:27)
As to believers who truly behold this Perfect Servant, comes the admonition: “I chose you out of the world…the servant is not greater than his master.” (Jn. 15:19,20) John, in his first epistle wrote: “…as He is, so are we in this world.” (4:17) The disciple of Christ, anointed by the same Spirit of God, is chosen to be a faithful servant.
Dear Father, Anoint us afresh today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.