Beloved Servant

“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 declare justice to the Gentiles.” –Matthew 12:18 (NKJV)

“Behold My Servant…My Beloved.” The gospel writer, Matthew, in recording the events in the life of Jesus wanted to show that he was the Messiah about whom the prophets wrote. Matthew 12:18-21 is quoting Isaiah 42:1-4 with which Matthew would have been very familiar, having been brought up in the Jewish tradition and having studied the prophets.

“Beloved Servant” was hardly a term for the expected Messiah that the people would accept, even if their great prophet Isaiah had written of him as the Suffering Servant. The people wanted a political Saviour, a Conquering King. As opposition from the Pharisees built against Jesus in the midst of his popularity with the people, Matthew inserts in his gospel this “Beloved Servant” passage quoting Isaiah. I have read both passages carefully and prayerfully and am amazed at how one passage of Scripture adds so much light on another.

The Jewish leaders were rejecting the Beloved Servant and “taking counsel how they might destroy Him.” (Matt. 12:14). Jesus was healing all manner of disease, casting out demons, forgiving sins. On what authority did he perform these miracles? The Pharisees certainly had not delegated nor approved His works, and certainly not those performed on the Holy Sabbath. But the Beloved Servant continued to heal, continued to teach. He did not have to have the approval of the religious authorities; His marching orders were from Almighty God. “Beloved Servant” came from the heart of God to change the hearts of people. And because of that holy purpose and intention, we who were “afar off” (we, the Gentiles) have become “The Chosen People” of God.

Prayer: Thank You, God, that the Beloved Servant demonstrated the very heart of God. Thank you that in His Name the Gentiles can trust and the isles of the seas wait for His law. Amen.

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Saturday, February 20, 2010