Throughout our study of Isaiah, we have had numerous opportunities to discuss the deity of Jesus Christ, because He keeps popping up in the book. But now, He becomes the main focus for the next several chapters. I'm pretty sure we're going to take this section slowly, because there will be lots of great stuff about Jesus, brand new things to learn, and other stuff to be reminded of.
Jesus is speaking, and calling the nations of the world to listen and pay attention. He prophetically makes reference to His human birth, being called from the womb, and being named by God while still inside the body of His mother.
Of course, we are well familiar with this history, not only because of Christmas, but because Isaiah has already written of this back in chapter seven:
Is. 7:14 “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.
Naturally, Matthew gave us much more detail after the events took place:
Matt. 1:18-25 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. “She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL,” which translated means, “GOD WITH US.” And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.
Jesus, God with us, was named while in the womb of the woman named Mary. This had been planned all along, and Jesus told us these details prophetically through Isaiah.
The mouth of Jesus is also like a sharp sword. Now, we often accuse someone who excels at put-downs as having a "sharp tongue." But in this case, the phrase is referring to the sharp edge that the Word of God has.
Heb. 4:12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
The Word of God is a sword. And so, when God speaks, it is as if His very mouth is a sword. We see Jesus described in this way throughout the book of Revelation:
Rev. 1:16 ...out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength.
Rev. 2:16 ...repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth.
Rev. 19:15 From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations...
Rev. 19:21 And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh.
This is yet another proof of the deity of Jesus as well. Because what He speaks is the Word of God.
One thing that is difficult to understand is Jesus' statement,
Is. 49:2 ...in the shadow of His hand He has concealed Me; And He has also made Me a select arrow, He has hidden Me in His quiver.
What does it mean that the Father "hid and concealed" Jesus?
Well, it is possible that it refers to the concealment of obscurity of Jesus' life before He began His public ministry at about the age of 30 (Luke 3:23).
But I think that it's more likely speaking of the millennia before He was born of a virgin. Existing in eternity past, but making only sporadic appearances in the Old Testament as "the angel of the Lord," and the rare occasion where He would show up to speak to Moses face-to-face or wrestle with Jacob.
Paul wrote to the Colossians about a mystery:
Col. 1:26-27 that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
This mystery had been alluded to by the prophets, but it was only in the church age that the mystery was made manifest. None of the prophetic passages were really understandable until Jesus was revealed, and the mystery was uncovered.
The Father said to Jesus, "You are My Servant." This is one of the titles by which Jesus would become known by the early church.
Peter was preaching to the crowds that gathered after he and John had healed a lame man at the temple gates, and said,
Acts 3:13 “The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus, the one whom you delivered and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him.
Later in that same sermon, He told them,
Acts 3:26 “For you first, God raised up His Servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.”
When Peter and John were released from jail, the disciples got together and prayed to the Father,
Acts 4:27-30 "For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur. And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence, while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus."
Notice that all of these references to Him being the servant of God have to do with His obedience to go to death and be raised again.
Jesus' willingness to follow God's will at His expense is why the Father says, "You are My Servant, Israel." Unlike the nation of Israel, who actually fit their forefather's name "Jacob" much better, Jesus fit the name Israel.
Remember, Jacob basically means, "sneaky guy," while Israel means, "governed by God." Jesus both said and lived out the words,
Luke 22:42 "...not My will, but Yours be done.”
It was in this context that He was called "Israel."
By being the Servant of God so completely, God was pleased to show His glory through Jesus. The apostle John said,
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
And the writer of Hebrews wrote,
Heb. 1:3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature...
Jesus is the radiance of God's glory, just as light and energy waves bring the power of the sun to us.
It might seem somewhat disturbing to see Jesus' total obedience to the Father's will outwardly, but then to read that He thought He was toiling in vain, His strength spent for nothing. But remember, while being fully God, He was also fully man. And He...
Heb. 4:15 ...has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.
The stress that Jesus endured by choosing to do God's will was unimaginable.
Luke 22:41-44 ...He knelt down and began to pray, saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him. And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.
Being the Servant of God, He was willing to go to the cross. But, remember,
John 1:11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.
And even those who received Him bailed out:
Matt. 26:56 ...all the disciples left Him and fled.
What man wouldn't think at that point that he was wasting his time?
Jesus knew that His reward was with God. And so, Hebrews says that Jesus,
Heb. 12:2 ...for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame...
Do you feel like your situation today is unjust? Like you've drawn the shortest straw? Like life is not treating you fairly? God has a wonderful blessing and reward waiting for those who endure. Peter started to get concerned that he was on the losing end, and said,
Luke 18:28-30 ...“Behold, we have left our own homes and followed You.” And He said to them, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times as much at this time and in the age to come, eternal life.”
Whether the wonderful reward God has for you is in this life or the next, rest assured, there is joy before you, if you keep on keeping on. Endure. Even if you're in this all alone, you're not in it all alone. And there is joy on the way.
This attitude enabled Jesus to go to torture, crucifixion, and death. It can help each of us weather our lesser trials.