I appreciate deeply those who come around, those I can depend on. I would include many of you in that group.

Do you have people like that in your life? Many people would point to their husband or wife in that category. Others would point to their children or their brothers or sisters. Some of you have friends who are always there for you.

God has someone like that as well. We find the story in Isaiah.

In the book of Isaiah are several passages called “Servant songs.” They are the songs of a mysterious servant. These passages are Isaiah 42:1-9, Isaiah 49:1-13, Isaiah 50:4-11, Isaiah 52:13-53:12.

In Isaiah, Isaiah is called a servant: “3 Then the LORD said, “Just as my servant Isaiah has gone stripped and barefoot for three years, as a sign and portent against Egypt and Cush,” (Isaiah 20:3, NIV.)
Eliakim: “20 “In that day I will summon my servant, Eliakim son of Hilkiah.” (Isaiah 22:20, NIV.)
David: “35 “I will defend this city and save it, for my sake and for the sake of David my servant!”” (Isaiah 37:35, NIV.),
Jacob: “8 “But you, O Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham my friend,” (Isaiah 41:8, NIV.),
Israel: “1 “But now listen, O Jacob, my servant, Israel, whom I have chosen.” (Isaiah 44:1, NIV.),
Jeshurun: “2 This is what the LORD says--he who made you, who formed you in the womb, and who will help you: Do not be afraid, O Jacob, my servant, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.” (Isaiah 44:2, NIV.) [Jeshurun mean “upright one” another name for Israel].

So who is the servant? Who is this person.

“1 “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations. 2 He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. 3 A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; 4 he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his law the islands will put their hope.” Isaiah 42:1-4

Notice that this servant is God’s servant. Notice that this servant is chosen. Thirdly, notice that God delights in this servant. Finally, this servant has God’s spirit on him.

Matthew identifies this servant.

Matthew is writing his book before 70 AD, perhaps as early as 40 AD. As a tax collector, he was a record keeper. And in his records he relates this passage in Isaiah 42 to Jesus

“18 “Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. 19 He will not quarrel or cry out; no-one will hear his voice in the streets. 20 A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he leads justice to victory. 21 In his name the nations will put their hope.”” Matthew 12:18-21, NIV.

Then we find an echo of this at Jesus baptism in Matthew 3:16-17.

“16 As soon as Jesus was baptised, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.””

What is interesting is that in the Hebrew the word used for servant can also be used for a son. Isaiah says that God delights in his servant; in Matthew God is well pleased with his son.

There is no title that our Lord carried to a higher plain than the title of “servant.” Jesus said,
“45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”” Mark 10:45, NIV.

And every one of us is called to serve like Christ served.
“5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” Philippians 2:5-7, NIV.

Notice that Jesus is the one in whom God delights. It is not Muhammad, Buddah or Hare Krishna. It is not Sun Yung Moon. It is not Jim Jones or Joseph Smith. It is Jesus Christ.

Let’s be frank at this point. I am not interested in putting down other people or other religions. I am interested in truth. If Jesus is God’s servant, God’s son, the one in whom he is well pleased and the one in whom he delights, then we need to give him his proper place. If Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, if no one can come to the father but by him, then everyone else is either lying or deceived. Jesus cannot be both the only way to God and one of many ways. It’s not the interest of putting others down, it is in the interest of elevating the truth that we proclaim Christ crucified, risen and coming again for those who believe.

We live in a pluralistic society. We respect the right of all religions to operate without government interference. But what we do on a national scale is not what we have to do on an individual scale. God gave us minds. If everyone has a different belief, they can’t all be right.

We take as our starting point the truth that the Bible is the Word of God. It is not man’s words about God, but God’s words about himself and man. It is not the purpose of this message to give you all the proofs, though the fact that Jesus fulfilled so much OT prophecy is a good starting point. It is amazing that the birthplace of the Messiah in the Old Testament is the same town in which Jesus was born. It is interesting that the details of the crucifixion so closely match the details given in Isaiah 53. It is interesting that Daniel’s prophecy brings us right to the year of Jesus’ birth. You can say that this is all coincidence, but we believe the Bible is true, it is the word of God.

Because of this, God delights in Jesus. He absolutely delights in his servant. He said in John,
“22 Moreover, the Father judges no-one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honour the Son just as they honour the Father. He who does not honour the Son does not honour the Father, who sent him.” John 5:22, 23, NIV.

What makes God delight in Jesus? That is an important question. It is one worth finding out.

Are you attracted to Jesus? If so, what would be your list? What is it that attracts you to Jesus?

I want to show a video that is about 4 minutes of street interviews with people. They are given one word, either “Christian” or “Christ” and asked to make an association. What you will discover is that when it comes to Christ, three different answers are given. Some delight in Christ. Some oppose Christ. Some just don’t know Christ.

video

God delights in Christ. Those with a casual attitude towards Jesus will be surprised when they stand before God. God says of Jesus, “He is my servant, the one in whom I delight.”

We will go through the servant songs looking for clues as to why God delights in Jesus. In what way will Jesus serve God that will make God so happy?

The church at Ephesus was known as a good church with one problem. They had lost their first love. They lost sight of how important Jesus was to God.

One result of this series is that I hope we will come to know Jesus through the eyes of God. I hope that God will use this series to rekindle our love for Him.

There is something contagious about enthusiasm. If you love Jesus, others will be drawn by your energy, by your faith, by your love.