Jesus: The Fulfillment of Propecy - Servanthood

Within Isaiah are four mysterious “Servant Songs”, passages that speak of an unnamed Servant of God who simply defies expectations. The passage, the last and most famous of the Servant Songs (Isaiah 52:13-53:12), is often claimed to describe Christ. But Isaiah was not written for a Christian audience – it was written for a Jewish one. They, of course, do not see the Suffering Servant as Jesus. But if we read it from their eyes, perhaps we can learn something not just about Christ, but also about us in the process. There are two speakers in the Servant Song, but we will only read the words of one of them. The speaker here consists of pagan observers who are witnesses to the Suffering Servant.

Read: Isaiah 53:1-10

The speaker’s response to the Suffering Servant was at first that of incredulity. This guy was essentially a nobody, coming from seemingly nowhere. But then in verse 4-5, they noticed that this Suffering Servant took up a suffering that was not his to bear. And soon, the pagan observers realize in verse 6 the cold, hard truth: “We all, like sheep, have gone astray.” And as you read the testimony of these pagan observers, you realize in the end (vs. 10) that in seeing how the Suffering Servant suffered for transgressions not of his own, these pagan observers learned who the LORD is.

My favorite theologian is Stanley Hauerwas, and one of his claims was that Christianity in America has forgotten what it means to be Christian. I agree. So often, we think of ourselves as superior over others. To have Jesus means that we are more righteous, more powerful, more authoritative, and – in some churches – wealthier than those without Jesus. One of the great temptations of leadership is exactly that: because we are doulos people, counselors, Sunday school teachers, worship leaders, pastors, district superintendents, etc., we are somehow bigger, faster, better, stronger Christians than those who were not in positions of spiritual leadership. But if the passage today tells us anything, it is that God’s servant does not lord it over everyone. Indeed, Jesus said in Luke 22:25 that the greatest must be like the ones who serve.

And what does it mean to serve? Verses 7 gives a hint. Oppressed and afflicted, “yet he did not open his mouth”. He was led “like a lamb before the slaughter”. Imagine if you were in an argument with someone else at school and you simply shut up. That is the picture Isaiah was painting of the Suffering Servant – a Servant bullied for sins not of his own. Indeed, servanthood in the Bible cannot be separated from humility, from sacrifice, and from suffering. Yes – servanthood might mean that you will need to stay up late tonight talking on the phone with someone instead of doing your homework. Yes – servanthood might mean that you will need to shut up and take verbal abuse from someone who doesn’t know what he or she is doing (remember the Cross?). Yes – servanthood might mean that you will have to sacrifice your time, your schedule, prom night, etc.

Spend some time in reflection. What does it mean to serve? Maybe some of you are leaders in the church. What does it mean to serve for you? Maybe it means to spend less time with your friends in youth group and spend more time with those whom you don’t know as well? Perhaps it means praying for each other, or simply listening. Perhaps it means less time in the limelight on stage, more time in the pews worshipping together with everybody. In our reflection, let us look to the cross and remember the Christ who fulfills Isaiah’s vision of the Suffering Servant, and realize that ultimately, servanthood flows out of love.