Serving Justice
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Isaiah Servant Poems
Isaiah Servant Poems
We just finished going through the Gospel of Luke
In several passages Jesus seems frustrated that the disciples could not figure out who he was or his mission.
A misconception that plagued all the people, including the leaders, was that messiah was going to assume this governmental or religious institutional throne and RULE.
A common question was:
When are you, Jesus, going to rule the earth?
In America, we have a narrow view of suffering and evil.
You and I can look at our present culture and think it has never been this bad and Jesus must be coming soon to correct this.
WE DESIRE JUSTICE...
“Look at my servant, whom I strengthen. He is my chosen one, who pleases me. I have put my Spirit upon him. He will bring justice to the nations.
And that is what the author of Isaiah writes.
God has a servant, a chosen one, who is going to bring justice to the nations.
But, DO YOU WANT JUSTICE? REALLY?
Yes, you WANT JUSTICE, for OTHERS…because JUSTICE is punishing the wrongdoer. But you ARE NOT the WRONGDOER, right.
HOW will HE DO THIS?
WAR, CRUSHING PEOPLE?
He will not shout or raise his voice in public. He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. He will bring justice to all who have been wronged. He will not falter or lose heart until justice prevails throughout the earth. Even distant lands beyond the sea will wait for his instruction.”
Isn’t that interesting.
It is quite opposite of how we saw the crowd in Luke.
There is no riot, there is no protest.
Why? What is the target of a protest?
A HUMAN.
This servant will not do that, he will not crush the weakest or douse a flickering candle.
Instead, he will bring justice to all those who have been wronged.
Is that you? :-)
God, the Lord, created the heavens and stretched them out. He created the earth and everything in it. He gives breath to everyone, life to everyone who walks the earth. And it is he who says,
God has something to say about this servant...
BUT…this is an important verse...
God created everything in the earth (humans)
He gives his own breath to all
He gives life to those who live here
They have value…
“I, the Lord, have called you to demonstrate my righteousness. I will take you by the hand and guard you, and I will give you to my people, Israel, as a symbol of my covenant with them. And you will be a light to guide the nations. You will open the eyes of the blind. You will free the captives from prison, releasing those who sit in dark dungeons.
Is this the kind of justice you are seeking?
Prisoners released?
“I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not give my glory to anyone else, nor share my praise with carved idols. Everything I prophesied has come true, and now I will prophesy again. I will tell you the future before it happens.”
If you remember that last verses of Luke, the people return to Jerusalem and worship Jesus in the temple.
But, Isaiah is capturing a moment when:
the SERVANT is Jacob
the CHOSEN is Cyrus, who will come from the north.
How does this related to Jesus:
He is of the tribes of Israel
He comes from the North (Mt. Hermon)
Jesus rules unlike all humans
WHAT KIND OF RULER IS THIS SERVANT?
How will this JUSTICE be meted out?
He does NOT cry out
He does NOT raise his voice
He does NOT go on a public rampage
He is GENTLE (does not break a reed)
He is KIND (does not snuff the candle)
He does NOT GIVE UP
He will NOT be DISCOURAGED
These creatures we call humans are created by God and have the breath and life of God.
The servant does not desire to destroy the humans.
He wants to destroy the enemy, bring justice to those who walk in darkness.
So, when we are LOOKING FOR JUSTICE, regardless of the SIDE YOU ARE ON,
we need to MAKE SURE our approach lines up with this.
we need to MAKE SURE our message lines up with this.