Epiphany 2 (5)
Notes
Transcript
1 Listen to me, you islands; hear this, you distant nations: Before I was born the Lord called me; from my birth he has made mention of my name. 2 He made my mouth like a sharpened sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in his quiver. 3 He said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will display my splendor.” 4 But I said, “I have labored to no purpose; I have spent my strength in vain and for nothing. Yet what is due me is in the Lord’s hand, and my reward is with my God.” 5 And now the Lord says— he who formed me in the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself, for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord and my God has been my strength— 6 he says: “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”
A well known story in the book of Acts is that of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch. This story is often used to teach that we instruct adults before baptizing them. Note how the story begins. The Ethiopian is reading from Isaiah and Philip approaches him and asks if he understands what he is reading. The Ethiopian seems to be struggling with the passage from Isaiah 53. He asked the question, “Who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. This teaches us that even though the Old Testament was written centuries before the arrival of Jesus, there would at times be passages (short or longer excerpts) that God used to predict important details about Jesus. The book of Isaiah has some of the most profound including the section the Ethiopian was reading. Our text from Isaiah 49 is one of those sections. It is one of the “Servant Songs”. This section tells us some important details about who Jesus is and what his mission would be. What do we learn about Jesus? (verse by verse explanation)
After we reflect on how this was fulfilled by Jesus, I want us to also reflect on ways in which this relationship God has with his servant, Jesus, can also apply to us as to our own purpose in lie and what similarities we can see.
The Lord God called Jesus to carry out his mission. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all equal in the Trinity. And yet, they have a defined relationship with each other. Although coequal, the Bible will at times define what may appear to be a superior/subordinate relationship. We see this most often withe the reference to Father and Son. Here it is described as “You are my servant.” (cite similar passages).
Jesus is the chosen one of God the Father. We know this selecting of Jesus took place from all eternity. Here in poetic fashion the servant ways that it was before he was born while he was still in his mother’s womb. This certainly reinforces the belief that a person has individuality before birth. This would not be limited to the Son of God because Jeremiah speaks in the same way about his own existance.
Main point: God has a plan for his people. In this case God had chosen his servant (Jesus) to “bring Jacob back to him, and gather Israel to himself.” What does this mean?
In addition to redeeming Israel, Jesus’ mission would save all. “I will also make you a light for Gentiles, that the Lord’s salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”
Research the phrase “light for the Gentiles”. See how this is used in our liturgy.
Luke 2:29–32 (NIV)
29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”
46 Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. 47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us: “ ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
23 that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.”
We sing the after celebrating the Lord’s Supper.
Application: God chooses Christians to serve him. 1 Peter 2:9 “9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”
See cross references.Matthew 5:16 (NIV)
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
You undoubtedly can think of times you have been chosen to do some task or carry out a responsibility.
Hall monitor.
Baby sit.
Chores.
Deliver a message.
Tasks at work.
In the church we are often chosen or even volunteer to carry out specific tasks. Although there is a human element, we believe that our God is personally involved in our lives. We will not be called on to do as much as Jesus (After all, he saved the world.), but we are chosen to do important things to spread the message of the Gospel.
Transition: The servant of the Lord is open and honest about the difficulty of the task at hand as well as his trust in the Lord to grant him success. Isaiah 49:4 “4 But I said, “I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing at all. Yet what is due me is in the Lord’s hand, and my reward is with my God.””
The book of Isaiah itself elaborates on this difficulty. See Isaiah 53
1 Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. 4 Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished. 9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. 11 After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
From what you recall about the life of Jesus, can you think of times when he expressed anguish over how he was rejected? Matthew 23:37–39 (NIV)
37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. 38 Look, your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”
17 “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.”
11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.
This is also expressed in John 1. John 1:10–11 (NIV84)
10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.
It can be very disheartening when our goals and plans fail. Especially if we know that our cause is true. (Cite examples)
Work hard on a project only to have it destroyed or ruined.
Teachers strive to educate their students but some just don’t learn.
Doctors work hard to save lives only to have their patient die.
And yet, the servant of the Lord was confident he would succeed. Isaiah 49:4
4 But I said, “I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing at all. Yet what is due me is in the Lord’s hand, and my reward is with my God.”
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
We too can be confident that the Lord will bless the efforts of those who are faithful.
11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. 12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.
6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
