The perfect Servant

Let's turn further in Isaiah to chapter 52. This wondrous prophecy, or book so filled with prophecy in the person of Christ. Verse 14, verse 13 rather, sorry.

Behold, my servant shall deal prudently. He shall be exalted, and extolled, and be very high. As many were astounded at he, his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men.

So shall he sprinkle, some have suggested, startle many nations. The king shall shut their mouths at him, for that which has been told them shall they see. That which they have not heard shall they consider.

These wonderful words, my servant, is introduced earlier in the book. And I was thinking as our brother was bringing before us the promise that God was going to send his son, coming into this very world to be the savior of mankind. And foretelling in this wonderful prophecy, as we come to this section, another hence even earlier, to become the sin bearer for a ruined race.

But to fulfill, first of all, when you think of the Levitical offerings that are introduced in Leviticus, and of those offerings, that burnt offering, coming to do the will of God, to glorify his father in heaven, and to honor him here on earth. And so I was thinking for a few moments of he who is indeed the perfect servant. Coming over to John's gospel, shall we turn there to chapter 17.

And considering the very prayer of our Lord, and having been to, as he has uttered these words before he would leave for Gethsemane, we'll read the first five verses of John 17. These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour has come. Glorify thy son, that thy son shall also may glory thee.

As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth.

I have finished the work which thou hast given me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self, with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. When we ponder considering these expressions, as the Lord, in view as animated yesterday, has suggested, not only would be likely the work of the cross which was before him, but all that he manifested in his public ministry, his works, the marvelous miracles, but it was all in view of redemption.

And to think of that expression, I have glorified thee on earth. I have finished the work which thou givest me to do. We're going to seek to enter into that in remembrance in the meeting that is to follow, that death that meant so much to God.

The wonder of it that he was a maker of all matter, co-equal to the Father, eternal, and yet coming into this scene to take the place of God's perfect servant. And I want to link with us the reading as Paul relates in Philippians 2, which was first my thought of thinking of the matter, those marvelous words as he comes to speaking about our blessed Lord. You come down to verse 6 of chapter 2 of Philippians, who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men.

And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also has highly exalted him, given him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow of things in heaven, of things on earth, and things under the earth. And every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

Wonderful that Paul, by the inspiration of the Spirit, could pen such words. The wonders of our blessed Savior, willing to take the place as he came into manhood to do that which was a purpose of the eternal Godhead, the word became flesh and dwelt among us. And as they pondered in thinking of those expressions as Brother Murray mentioned, it was a wise man that came later.

They'd come to see the one who is a king of the Jews. We wonder and marvel that they have presented to them those precious gifts, and yet can recognize him as the Scriptures teach, he took upon himself the form of a servant to do the Father's will, and only he could bear the punishment of the judgment of God. As we consider, we began with a sin and a trespass offering, our substitute, our sacrifice upon the cross, bearing shame and scoffing rude, in our place condemned he stood, sealed our pardon with his blood.

Hallelujah, what a Savior. As children of God and the family of God, we seek to serve him in our little life movements, but one that we are going to honor and do today, who is so high and lofty, and yet so willing to submit. Having left that garden of Gethsemane, he walked out in complete control, the betrayers at hand.

He approached them, and as we think of him saying, this is your hour in the power of darkness, we ponder and will later today in remembrance, the darkness and the shame of Calvary. But wonderful when you ponder those statements from the cross, Father, forgive them, they know not what they do. I heard a statement made just not too long ago, it's right, they knew what they were doing, they wanted to try to do with them, do away with them.

They didn't know they were putting into, bringing into pass, to show as those soldiers with the high priest and the leaders of the nation and others. He was here to do the Father's will, but they didn't realize as he looked out upon that crowd, Father, forgive them, they know not what they do. Then to think of those six hours, the last four cries are given to us, Father, as he spoke finally into my hands, I put them in my spirit.

But think of that cry from the cross, my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? And then those tremendous words after saying I thirst. It is finished. The work that I had come to do was finished.

I understand one word in the original, finished to God's desire, finished to God's glory, to the honor of his Son. And when we ponder these words, he was took upon himself the form of a servant. He humbled himself, became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

There's only one death to the cross in view of putting away sin. Men suffered for their own sins on crosses. Here was a holy, spotless Son of God, suffering for the maroon race, provision for all.

And as those who have come to know him as Savior, wonderful we can say in truth, the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. Submitting himself into the hands of men, he finished the work, he laid down his life. The first and the last cry, as we all know, were words again to the Father.

Into thy hands I commend my spirit. But then it makes note, God is going to raise and did raise that one, our Lord, out from amongst the dead, living as having ascended to the throne. We worship a living crucified, who is crucified on earth, a living Savior exalted in the glories.

But think of those nail prints, those, that row that was once crowned with thorns that men gave him, crowned with glory and honor. How wonderful we can, that we know him. How blessed as we think of what's coming, that every knee, the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow in heaven, on earth, and under the earth.

And every tongue shall confess Jesus Christ to his Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Sad to say, those who miss, refuse, neglect, turn away from Christ in lifetime and pass on, will own someday that he is indeed the Lord, the judge of all the earth. We know him as Savior and we're grateful.

And as we ponder and consider him, took upon himself the form of a servant. What humiliation and shame he'd endured. And yet, as the one now, having accomplished that work to God's glory, we're thankful we ever bowed the knee.

Our hearts were won to Christ. We have much to appreciate. May these thoughts, with what we've been reminded in the beginning, a Savior coming, a Savior who has come, a Savior who has finished that work, filled in heaven with his glory.

We're going to soon be there. May God bless as we think of the remembrance. And a little break now, shall we pray.