THE SUFFERING SERVANT: “That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaias the prophet, saying,” “Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall show judgment to the Gentiles”. (Matthew 12:17-18). For sure these verses are to be understood of Christ. For the Evangelist tells us expressly this prophecy was fulfilled, Matthew 12:17-21. Behold with an eye of faith, behold and observe, Behold and admire, My Servant, whom I uphold
What must we Behold of the Suffering Servant: 1. The Father’s concern for him and relations to him, the confidence he put and the complacency he took in him. This put honor upon him, and made him remarkable, above all other circumstances, as we read and understand: Isaiah 42:1 I. God owns him as one employed for him: He is my Servant. Though he was a Son, and also God’s mediator, he took upon Him the form of a Servant, learned obedience to the Will of God and practiced it, and laid out the plan himself as wisdom spoke to wisdom to advance the Kingdom of God and so He was God ‘s Servant. 2. As one chosen by God: he is God’s elect. He did not thrust himself into the service, but was called of God, and pitched upon as the fittest person for it. Infinite wisdom made the choice and then allowed it. 3. Jesus was the one God put confidence in: He is my Servant on whom I lean. The Father put confidence in Him that would go through with his undertaking, and, in that confidence, brought many sons to glory. it was a great trust which the Father reposed in the Son, but he knew him to be equal to it, both able and faithful. 4. God the Father took care of Jesus: He is my servant in whom I uphold. The Father bore him up, and bore him out, in his upholding Him; he stood by him and strengthened Him. 5. As one whom God took an entire complacency in. My elect, in whom my soul delights. His delight was in him from eternity, when he was by him as one brought up with him, (Prov. 8:30). He had a particular satisfaction in his undertaking: He declared himself well pleased (Matt. 3:17, 17:5), and therefore loved Him because he laid down His life for the sheep. Let our souls delight in Christ, rely on Him; and rejoice in Him and thus let us be united to Him, and then, for His sake, the Father will be pleased with us.
II. The qualification of Jesus for this office: I have put my Spirit upon Him, to enable Him to go through His undertaking (Isa. 61:1). The Spirit did not only come, but rest, upon him (Isa. 11:2) not by measure, as on other of God’s servants, but without measure. Those whom God employs as His servants; as he will uphold them and be well pleased with them, so he will put His Spirit upon them.
III. The work to which Jesus is appointed; it is to bring forth judgment to the Gentiles, that is, in infinite wisdom, holiness, and equity, to set up a religion in the world under the bonds of which the Gentiles should come and the blessing of which they should enjoy. The judgment of the Lord, which had been hidden from the Gentiles (Ps.147:20) He came to bring forth to the Gentiles, for he was to be a light that lightens them. Jewels of Nuggets “He was the Suffering Servant” who came to bring the light of Salvation to All Gentiles”.
IV. The mildness and tenderness with which Jesus should pursue His undertaking (Isa. 42:2,3) He shall carry it on, 1. In silence, and without noise: He shall not strive nor cry. It shall not be proclaimed Hey, here, is Christ or Hey, He is there; as when great princes ride in progress or make a public entrance. He shall have no trumpet sound before Him, nor any noisy retinue of people to follow Him. The opposition He meets with he shall not strive against, but patiently endure the contradiction of Sinners against Him. His Kingdom is Spiritual, and therefore its weapons are not carnal, nor is His appearance pompous; it comes not with observation. 2. Gently, and without rigor. Those that are wicked he will be patient with when he has begun to crush them so that they are as bruised reeds, He will give them space to repent and not immediately break them; though they are very offensive, as smoking flax (Isa.65:5), yet He will bear with them, as He did with Jerusalem. Those that are weak He will be tender of; those that have but a little life, a little heat, that are weak as a reed, oppressed with doubts and fears, as a bruised reed, that are as smoking flax, as the wick of a candle newly lighted, which is ready to go out again, he will not despise them, will not plead against them with His great power, nor lay upon them more work or more suffering than they can bear, which would break and quench them but will graciously consider their frame. Consider this, He will not break the bruised reed, but will strengthen it, that it may become a Cedar in the Courts of our God. He will not quench the smoking flax, but blow it up into a flame. Jewels of Nuggets “Jesus Christ is very tender toward those who have true grace, even though they may have little Faith, and may be weak in it, He will accept the willingness of the Spirit, pardoning and passing by the weakness of the flesh
Isaiah 42:1-4
BEHOLD MY servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighted; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. 2. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. 3. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. 4. He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.
Well, another Jewels of Nuggets of the Soul. Praise the Lord.
JEWELS FOR THE SOUL 