Bible Passage: Isaiah 42:1-7
Pastor: Joel Jenswold
Sermon Date: January 8, 2023

Bulletin January 8, 2023

In the name of, and to the eternal glory of, Jesus,

The stage was entirely black.  All eyes in the theater were watching, waiting for what was coming next.  Suddenly, a spotlight from the balcony clicked on.  It was trained upon one, single solitary person who stood center stage.  Everyone knew immediately who it was.  It was the star of the show!

Jesus came into the world before spotlights.  So how was God going to introduce the world to the Savior whom he had sent?  How was God going to say, “Here he is”?  Jesus’ baptism does this in a certain sense.  The voice of the Father from heaven, the descent of the Holy Spirit like a dove, these things are like a spotlight that shines on Jesus and says to the world, “Here he is!”

Another spotlight was prophecy.  And that brings us to our text for this morning from Isaiah.  Isaiah writes 700 years before Jesus is even born.  And already 700 years before Jesus was born, 700 years before Jesus would go into the Jordan River with John to be baptized, God put a spotlight on Jesus and said to the world, “Here he is!”  He introduced us to the Savior and told us some wonderful things about his ministry.

As we begin our look at this text, we can’t help but get the feeling God was excited to introduce his Son to the world!  Here is my servant, God says.  God calls him my chosen one (v. 1).  God even says he delights in his servant (v. 1).  God is so happy and excited to introduce you all to Jesus!  It makes us think of the words God spoke at the baptism of Jesus:  This is my Son, whom I love; I am well-pleased with him. (Matthew 3:17)  Are you looking for the only Savior who has God’s stamp-of-approval?  Here he is!

God goes on about his servant.  I am placing my Spirit on him. (v. 1)  In a very memorable and visible way, God did just that at Jesus’ baptism.  In the form of a dove, the Holy Spirit comes down and lands on Jesus!  And it stayed there!  John the Baptist said, I saw the Spirit descend like a dove from heaven and remain on him! (John 1:32)  This was no “tag-you’re-it.”  The Holy Spirit remained with Jesus.  Jesus was anointed with the Spirit.  That is the meaning of “Christ.”   The Anointed One.  Anointed, empowered, equipped with the Holy Spirit, Jesus steps forth to fulfill all righteousness and be our Savior.  Are you looking for the Spirit-anointed Sin-Bearer of the World?  Here he is!

In this text God also wants the world to know the work his Servant came to do.  Three times in our text God tells us that his Servant has come to announce a just verdict (v. 1, 3, 4).  You know what a verdict is, right?  A verdict is the legal ruling or finding in a court.  Verdicts can break in two directions.  There can be a “guilty” verdict or there can be a “not guilty” verdict.  Jesus came to announce a “just verdict.”  Which would it be?  Did Jesus come to say “guilty” or “not guilty”?

Our text contains the answer.  The Servant’s work is described this way:  [He would] bring the prisoners from the dungeon, and…bring those who sit in darkness out of prison. (v. 7)  Jesus came to fling open prison doors!  He came to say to guilty sinners, “You’re not guilty!  You’re free!  Free from guilt!  From the curse of sin!  Free from an eternity in hell!  Free from death!  Come out of your dark cell!  Blink your eyes in the bright sunshine of freedom!”

But how can he do that?  Our text tells us that the Servant of the Lord will announce a “just” verdict.  How can Jesus justly say to sinners like you and me, “You are not guilty.”  It does not sound just to say to the guilty, “You’re not guilty.”  Because we had a proxy stand in for us and take the sentence that should have been passed on us.  Jesus, the holy Son of God, goes down into the water to be baptized.  Why?  He had no sin to repent of!  He had no guilt to be cleansed!  But he was saying to the world, “I am here for you.  I am here with you.  Everything that you are, I will be.”  He becomes LIKE us so that he could be INSTEAD OF US.  The verdict of “guilty” would be spoken over Jesus on the cross, so that verdict of “not guilty” can be spoken over you!  Are you looking for a Savior who acquits you for every shameful sin you have ever done?  Here he is!

There is a wonderful story in our Bibles that shows us how tenderly and personally Jesus spoke his “just verdict.”  The story is told of a woman who was caught in the act of fornicating.  The Law allowed that she be stoned to death for such a sin.  They bring her to Jesus to see what he would say about it.  At first he says nothing.  He stoops down and draws in the dirt with his finger.  They keep pestering him for an answer.  Jesus straightens up.  Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her. (John 8:7)  He returns to tracing in the dirt.  Slowly, one-by-one, the crowd disperses.  Jesus speaks.  Has no one condemned you?  The woman answers, No one, Lord.  Then Jesus says, Neither do I condemn you.

This is exactly the way the Servant is described in our text!  He will not cry out.  He will not raise his voice.  He will not make his voice heard in the street.  A bent reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not snuff out. (v. 2-3)  Jesus was no crazy-eyed, street preacher barking about brimstone and damnation.  He was a gentle Shepherd of souls.  Are you looking for a Savior who will deal tenderly with your soul, who understands when you are bent and only dimly burning?  Here he is!

Do you want a Savior with a heart so big he can deal with the sin of the entire world?  Here he is!  Our text tells us the scope of Jesus’ love:  He will announce a just verdict for the nations…[and God says to him] I will appoint you to be a covenant for the people, to be a light for the nations. (v. 1, 6)  The other day I saw on TV an ad against hate and discrimination and it concluded with the words “ shine a light.”  If this world thinks one kind gesture by one person is a light in this hate filled world, how bright must that light be that shines from the cross of Jesus!  A love so big it is enough for all people!

I have one last question in conclusion today.  Are you looking for someone in whom you can trust and never be disappointed, someone who can change darkness to light, someone who can give you a reason to get out of bed every morning, someone whose love means you will spend eternity in endless, glorious light?  Here he is!

Amen.