On this first Sunday following the celebration of Epiphany, the Old Testament reading takes us to the Book of Isaiah. This is a season in the Church calendar of several weeks between the day of Epiphany (January 6) and the day before Ash Wednesday, which varies from year to year depending on when Easter falls. Many of the Scripture readings in the Lectionary during this time focus on the revelation of Jesus Christ to the world, revealing His identity and mission as the Light of the World, bringing hope to all nations. The prophet Isaiah spoke of the Messiah frequently throughout his book, and today’s Scripture is one of them, where he gives a portrait of Jesus as God’s chosen Servant who brings justice, light, and salvation to the world.
As our Scripture opens, God calls us to look at His Chosen One (vs. 1). This is God’s chosen Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, which is confirmed explicitly in the New Testament in Matthew 12:15-21. He is chosen and upheld by God. The Father spoke audibly and publicly at both Jesus’ baptism and transfiguration that He was well pleased, was delighted in Jesus, and the Holy Spirit came fully upon Jesus at His baptism (Matthew 3:16). God is delighted in Jesus, and because those who are saved are in Christ, He delights in us, too.
As God’s Servant, Jesus’ ministry was marked by humility, not by political agitation (vs. 2). He wasn’t a rabble-rouser, out in the streets organizing protest marches against Roman rule. Jesus does not advance His Kingdom through force or loud, angry noise. Instead, He avoided publicity, refused any political power, and ministered quietly and compassionately. Jesus shows us that true spiritual influence is not loud or self-promoting, but is Spirit-empowered humility.
Next we come across one of the most beloved characteristics of God’s chosen Servant, and that is His tenderness towards the weak (vs. 3). A bruised reed symbolizes someone who is weak, wounded, and failing. A bruised reed cannot be used for any good purpose. However, God will not break them and throw them out, but instead restores and strengthens them. A smoking flax is a faintly burning wick, and symbolizes those whose spiritual flame is nearly gone. Barely any light or warmth can come from them. But God will not extinguish them. He will blow His breath of mercy until He fans them into a flame. Jesus does not crush the weak. He restores them. He meets us in our weakness with gentleness, not condemnation.
Jesus, though, is not a bruised reed or smoking flax. He will not be bruised or crushed (vs. 4). Though Satan and the world, both during His earthly life and today, have tried to stop Jesus, put an end to His ministry, and destroy His followers, His mission will not be stopped. Christ’s mission cannot fail. Our hope rests on His strength and power, not ours.
God, the Creator of all things, is the One who sends the Servant (vs. 5). This reinforces the certainty of His success. When God calls, He equips. His purposes cannot be frustrated. God’s Servant, the Lord Jesus, is not merely the mediator of a covenant, He is the covenant (vs. 6). This is fulfilled in His shed Blood (Luke 22:20). He is also the Light of the Gentiles, leading them to salvation. He is the only source of spiritual light, which all nations need.
Another part of the Servant’s saving work is opening the eyes of the blind and setting captives free (vs. 7). This includes both literal and spiritual deliverance. As we read throughout the Gospels, there were numerous occasions when Jesus physically restored people’s eyesight. However, more importantly, Jesus opens spiritual eyes, causing those who are spiritually blind to see the truth. He also sets those who are prisoners of sin, darkness, and Satan free when they turn to Him in faith. Jesus, alone, frees us from spiritual captivity.
As our passage nears the end, the Lord clearly tells us that He will not share His glory with anyone or anything else (vs. 8), which includes all other false religious beliefs. All glory belongs to Christ, and anything that competes with Him is an idol. He closes by declaring that when He tells us of something that will happen, we can rely on it happening (vs. 9). Fulfilled prophecy authenticates God’s Word. It strengthens our faith, knowing that He always keeps His Word.
In closing, this picture of the Messiah that Isaiah gave invites us to behold the Servant Jesus, to trust Him and follow Him with renewed confidence. We see that Jesus is both majestic and tender. He is the Servant who stoops low to lift up the broken, yet He is also the King who will one day bring perfect justice to the earth.
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