My Servant

by TERRELL, J. D. | Category: Names And Titles Of The Lord Jesus | Jul 2005

One of the very significant titles of the Lord Jesus in the Scriptures, and one that is rich in teaching about His person and work, is 'My Servant'. It is a title given in the Old Testament prophetic scriptures, and Isaiah chapter 42 is our first text about the Lord Jesus as the Servant of Jehovah. '"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. He will not cry out, nor raise His voice, nor cause His voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth. He will not fail nor be discouraged, till He has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands shall wait for His law."' What completely assures us that these words belong to the Lord Jesus, is their quotation in the gospel according to Matthew chapter 12. There the Master had come into conflict with the Pharisees who disputed with Him about which acts were legitimate on the Sabbath. In the quiet of the synagogue the Lord graciously restored the withered hand of a man doubtless condemned to permanent unemployment as a result of his disability. All in all a pretty typical day in the Lord's kindly, unobtrusive ministry of healing and grace. And the Holy Spirit through Matthew directly applies the words we have quoted from Isaiah 42. 'My Servant', chosen, Spirit anointed, serving the divine purpose in quiet gentleness and sympathetic care for men and women in desperate need - a lovely presentation of the grace of God in Christ (Mat.12:15-21).

Now it's very interesting to note that the designation 'Servant', far from being a term of disparagement or condescension in the Old Testament scriptures, is one that is applied to nearly all of the great men of their day. Without quoting all the scripture references, we note that 'Servant' is the description of no less worthies than Abraham, Moses, Joshua, David, Elijah and many others. 'Servant' is a designation also applied to Israel as a nation. Similarly, Paul and the other apostles speak of themselves as servants, bondservants of Jesus Christ. It conjures up images of humility, obedience, faithfulness. And why not, we may ask, concerning the attitudes and actions of men and women in relation to their God? Why not indeed! Men consider it an honour today to serve the monarch or president of their country, whether in high office or in a more lowly role.

But the amazing aspect of the subject is its application to the Lord Jesus Christ 'who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant � and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross'.

There are four servant passages in the prophecy of Isaiah each presenting varying shades of teaching about the One who was to come. They are in chapters 49,50,52/53 as well as chapter 42. Through all of them shine God's delight in His holy Servant. In chapter 49 we have Him depicted as a polished shaft in God's quiver. His mouth is like a sharp sword, and He receives the promise that God will be glorified in Him and, '"'I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, that You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.'"' Passage after passage from the New Testament about the Lord spring to mind from such words. 'Out of His mouth', said John in Revelation chapter 1, 'went a sharp two-edged sword' and, '"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations ..."' was the command to His appointed men as they looked symbolically from the mountain in Galilee to the ends of the earth. In Isaiah chapter 50 there is a sketch of the whole odyssey of salvation from the words '"He awakens My ear to hear as the learned"' through to the sufferings of such words as, '"I gave My back to those who struck Me ... I did not hide My face from shame and spitting"'; and the supreme challenge to the adversary, '"Who will contend with Me? Let us stand together."'

But it is in Isaiah chapters 52 and 53 that we have the richest presentation of Jehovah's suffering Servant. Here the Servant, destined to be exalted and very high, is seen with visage 'marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men'. Yet kings, we are told would shut their mouths at Him one day when what had not been hitherto told them they would see. 'Every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him' are the words through John in Revelation 1:7. Isaiah's clearest Messianic prophecy of all is in chapter 53. We treasure the passage beginning, 'He was wounded for our transgressions � and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all'. Then the fearful turbulence dies down as we come to the lovely promise, 'He shall see the labor of His soul and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many ... Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong.'

Our thoughts carry over again quite unbidden to the profound address of Paul to the Philippians concerning 'Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the Name which is above every name, that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father'. What a presentation of the Servant of Jehovah!

And, says the apostle, 'Let this mind be in you'. For although the supreme purpose of the Servanthood of Jesus Christ was the sacrifice and suffering of the cross, His servant life was for an example to His own in their relations with Him and with one another. Consider a basin, water and a towel in an upstairs room in Jerusalem, and the Master washing His disciples' feet. '"Do you know what I have done to you?"' Did they? Do we? The same gracious One gently reminded His men, '"I am among you as the One who serves"' (Luke 22:27). And the disciples learned something of the amazing truth of this matter for, in presenting their Master in gospel preaching, the apostles spoke of the God of our fathers glorifying His Servant Jesus; of God having raised up His Servant Jesus. In prayer they spoke of Pontius Pilate, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel being gathered together against your holy Servant Jesus; and of signs and wonders being done through the Name of your holy Servant Jesus (see Acts 3:13-15; 4:25-30). These men had watched Jesus, their Master, and they never forgot what they saw. There are several words used for servant and service in the New Testament, the most striking and significant means bondservant. That is the word in Philippians chapter 2. May the amazing truth of the self-emptying of the Son of God to take the form of a bondservant, never cease to melt and challenge our hearts.

TERRELL, J. D. | Jul 2005
Names And Titles Of The Lord Jesus