Today’s Passage: Isaiah 42:1-4

Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. — Isaiah 42:1

Jesus was announced by Isaiah as a coming “servant” (Isaiah 42:1). What an odd title for the Son of God who created all things and in whom “all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17). But unlike any servant we had ever seen, Jesus would be coming to change nations and empires. He would be bringing a new day of hope and justice.

In verses two through three, Isaiah also speaks to the uniqueness of Jesus’s methods. He would not seek change by making a political splash, or staging a military coup. Rather, like a whisper in the streets slowly growing into a shout among the nations, Jesus was after the hearts of the people.

Finally, in verse four, Isaiah reminds us that Jesus’s motivation is powerful. His love for the nations compels Him to never stop or rest until the good news has spread. As we prepare our hearts in Advent season, the nature of Jesus (servant), the methods of Jesus (humble obedience), and the motivations of Jesus (powerful love) should characterize our lives as well.

Prayer

God, teach me to pursue the nations with the same humble-hearted determination that Jesus demonstrated. In Jesus’s name, amen.