King and Servant

Following his baptism, the voice from Heaven identified Jesus as God’s Son and the ‘Suffering Servant of the LORD’. The promises of God are fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God sent to redeem Israel and “shepherd the nations.” Peter, for example, confirmed he was the “Messiah” but failed to understand how he would undertake that role as the ‘Servant of Yahweh’ who would “bear the sins of many.” Christ’s identity and mission were revealed in his death on the Roman Cross.

The Gospel of Matthew calls Jesus the “son of David, the son of Abraham.” He was the royal descendant of David and the Patriarch’s heir who would fulfill the covenant promises. Abraham was wealthy. David was a victorious warrior king who reigned in Jerusalem, but how could a poor man from an insignificant village in Galilee accomplish all that God had promised in the Hebrew Scriptures?

[Photo by Harley Upton on Unsplash]

An angel informed Joseph that Mary was pregnant and commanded him to name the child ‘Jesus’, “for he will save his people from their sins.” That name meant “Yahweh saves.” It indicated what God was about to do for His people.

The declaration that he would “save his people from their sin” made to Joseph echoed the description of the “Servant of the LORD” in the Book of Isaiah, providing insight into what kind of Messiah Jesus was – (Matthew 1:21):

• “Behold, My Servant will deal wisely, he will be exalted and lifted up, and will be very high…  And Yahweh has laid on him the iniquity of all us all… Who among them considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living For the transgression of My People for whom the stroke was due?... He will see of the travail of his soul and will be satisfied: by the knowledge of himself will My righteous Servant justify many, and he will bear their sins… Because he poured out his soul unto death and was numbered with the transgressors, yet he bore the sins of many, and made intercession for the transgressors” – (Isaiah 42:1, 53:10-13).

The Spirit descended on Christ “like a dove” after his baptism and the “Voice from Heaven” called him “my Son.” God confirmed his status as the Messiah and the Spirit anointed and equipped him for service. The Voice also revealed how the man anointed with God’s Spirit would fulfill his Messianic role as God’s “Servant” - (Psalm 2:7):

• (Isaiah 42:1, 6-7) - “Behold, My Servant whom I uphold; my chosen one in whom My soul delights. I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring justice to the nations… I, Yahweh, have called you in righteousness and will hold your hand and keep you, and give you for a covenant of the people, for a light of the nation.”

Christ was the “Son” anointed by the Spirit to shepherd the nations, but he began his reign as the ‘Servant of Yahweh.’ God’s Spirit led the royal “son of David” to Calvary rather than Caesar’s imperial throne. Christ’s rule over the nations commenced from the Cross. The same passage from Isaiah is cited again by Matthew to describe his ministry in Matthew 12:18-22 and Matthew 17:1-5 (“This is My Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased”).

Before his Transfiguration, Jesus asked what others were saying about “who the Son of man is?” The disciples responded, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, or one of the prophets.” Then he asked who they believed he was. Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” - (Matthew 16:13-20).

Christ then warned his disciples about his suffering and death at the hands of the “elders and chief priests and scribes.” Peter found the idea intolerable and "began to rebuke him.” However, Jesus explained that if anyone desired to follow him, he must deny himself, take up his Cross, and follow him. “Whoever will lose his life for my sake will find it”- (Matthew 16:24-28).

After his Transfiguration, the disciples asked him why the Scribes claimed that “Elijah must come first.” He responded: “Elijah” had indeed come, alluding to John the Baptist. To him, the Scribes, and the priestly leaders, “did whatever they would. Even so, will the Son of Man also suffer” - (Matthew 17:9-13).

SUFFERING BEFORE EXALTATION

Two themes are prominent in the story. Christ’s suffering and death. Second, the command to emulate him through self-sacrificial service for his Kingdom and people. When two disciples requested high positions in the Kingdom, Jesus used the opportunity to explain how “greatness” would be measured in His kingdom:

• (Matthew 20:25-28) – “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones tyrannize them. Not so will it be among you: but whosoever would become great among you will be your servant, and whosoever would be first among you will be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served, to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

Jesus pointed to his sufferings and death as how his disciples are to serve. In doing so, he inserted the ‘Servant of Yahweh’ into the discussion - “Because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors. Yet he bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.” His death was the ransom price to redeem the “many.”

Before his death, Jesus broke bread and told the disciples to eat it, “for this is my body.” He passed the cup and told them to drink its contents, “for this is the blood of my covenant,” once more using language from Isaiah’s description of the ‘Servant of Yahweh’:

• “I, Yahweh, have called you in righteousness and will hold your hand, and will keep you and give you for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles” – (Isaiah 42:6, Matthew 26:26-28).

After his resurrection, Jesus received “all authority in Heaven and on Earth.” His enthronement came after his unjust death on the Cross. He “gave his life as a ransom for many,” liberating them from bondage to sin and death.

This is what God’s Spirit anointed him to accomplish (“Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; my chosen, in whom my soul delights. I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring justice to the nations”). Neither his Messianic Mission nor his reign can be understood apart from his sacrificial death. He was the ‘Suffering Servant of Yahweh.’

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SEE ALSO:

• Spirit and Fire - (The Spirit of God descended on Jesus, equipping him for his Messianic mission. He would baptize his followers in the Holy Spirit and Fire)

• Full of the Spirit - (After his baptism, the Spirit drove Jesus into the Wilderness to be tested by the Devil. But he overcame and succeeded where Israel failed)

• Son and Spirit - (Jesus is the Messiah, the anointed Son of God. From the start, his life was characterized by the empowering presence of the Spirit)

• L'Homme de l'Esprit - (Jésus est le Fils oint de Dieu, et dès le début, sa vie a été caractérisée par la présence habilitante de l'Esprit)