The Royal Servant

Following his baptism in the Jordan River, the Voice from Heaven identified Jesus as the Son of God and the Servant of the LORD.

The theme of fulfillment is prominent in Matthew’s Gospel. The promises of God are fulfilled in Jesus, the Anointed Son sent to redeem Israel and rule the nations. Peter confirmed that he was the “Messiah” but failed to understand that he would undertake that role as the suffering “Servant of Yahweh,” a misunderstanding that persists to this day. Christ’s true identity and the significance of his mission are revealed in his Death and Resurrection.

The Gospel of Matthew begins by identifying Jesus as the “Son of David, the Son of Abraham.” Christ was the royal descendant of David destined by the God of Israel to reign over the Earth, and he was the heir of Abraham who came to fulfill the Covenant.

[Photo by Daniil Silantev on Unsplash]

Abraham was wealthy. David was a victorious warrior king who reigned in Jerusalem. How could a poor man from an insignificant village in Galilee accomplish all that God had promised in the Hebrew Scriptures?

An angel commanded Joseph to name Mary’s child ‘Jesus’, “for he will save his people from their sins.” This name meant “Yahweh saves,” and it pointed to what God would now do for His people. The Angel’s declaration echoed the description of the “Servant of the LORD” in the Book of Isaiah:

• “Behold, My Servant will deal wisely, he will be exalted and lifted up, and he will be very high<…> And Yahweh has laid on him the iniquity of us all<…> Who among them considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living for the transgression of My people to whom the stroke was due?<…> My righteous Servant will justify many, and he will bear their sins<…> He poured out his soul unto death and was numbered with the transgressors: yet he bore the sins of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”

After Jesus was baptized, the Spirit descended on him “like a dove,” and the “Voice from Heaven” called him “my Son.” Thus, God confirmed his status as the Messiah of Israel, anointed him for his Messianic Mission, and He also defined how he would fulfill that role as His Suffering Servant - (Psalm 2:7):

• (Isaiah 42:1, 6-7) - “Behold, My Servant whom I uphold; my chosen one in whom My soul delights. I have put my Spirit upon him. He will bring justice to the nations<…> I, Yahweh, have called you in righteousness and will hold your hand, and will keep you, and I will give you for a covenant of the people, for a light of the nation.”

MY SERVANT

Jesus of Nazareth was the “Son” anointed by God’s Spirit to become the King of Israel and rule the nations, but he began his reign as the “Servant of Yahweh.” His sovereignty over the Earth would commence from the Roman Cross. In Matthew, the same passage from Isaiah is cited again to describe his ministry, only more fully:

• (Matthew 12:18-22) - “And perceiving it, Jesus withdrew from there, and many followed him; and he healed them all and charged them that they should not make him known that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying: 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 will declare judgment to the nations. He will not strive, nor cry aloud; Neither will anyone hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and smoking flax will he not quench until he sends judgment unto victory. And in his name will the nations hope.”

At his Transfiguration, the same heavenly voice echoed the Prophet Isaiah again: “While Peter was yet speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold, a voice out of the cloud, saying: This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. Hear him!” - (Matthew 17:1-5).

The Transfiguration was preceded by three incidents. First, Jesus asked what others were saying about “who the Son of man is?” They responded, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, or one of the prophets.” Then he asked who they believed he was. Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” - (Matthew 16:13-20).

Secondly, he warned his disciples about his suffering and death at the hands of the “elders and chief priests and scribes.” Peter found this idea intolerable and "began to rebuke him.” His momentary revelation about Christ’s identity evaporated - (Matthew 16:21-23).

Thirdly, Jesus explained that if anyone desired to follow him, he must deny himself, take up his Cross, and follow the same path as him. “Whoever will lose his life for my sake will find it.” Jesus sacrificed his life for others but found life when his Father raised him from the dead.

After his transfiguration, the disciples asked Jesus why the Scribes claimed that “Elijah must come first.” He responded: “Elijah” had indeed come, alluding to John the Baptist. To John, the Scribes, and the priestly leaders, “did whatever they wanted. Even so, will the Son of Man also suffer.” The Royal Road to Zion must first pass through Calvary - (Matthew 17:9-13).

SUFFERING BEFORE EXALTATION

Two themes are prominent. First, Christ’s suffering and death. Second, his disciples are summoned to follow him by engaging in sacrificial service for others, and for his Kingdom.

Two of Christ’s disciples requested high positions “when you come into your kingdom.” This displeased the others, but Jesus used the opportunity to explain how “greatness” would be measured in his coming Kingdom:

• (Matthew 20:25-28) – “But Jesus called them unto him and said: You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. Not so will it be among you. But whosoever would become great among you will be your servant, and whosoever would be first among you will be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

The royal Messiah of Israel pointed to his sufferings and death as the model of what it meant “not to be served, but to serve.” In doing so, he echoed the description of the “Servant of Yahweh” - “Because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors. Yet he bore the sin of many and interceded for the transgressors.”

Just as the “Son of David” became the “Servant of Yahweh,” his subjects and followers must learn to serve others. That is what true kings and princes do – Serve their people.

Christ’s sacrificial death was the “ransom price” for the redemption of the “many.” Paul employed this same image when demonstrating how believers attain and manifest the “same mind, which was in Christ Jesus.” Unlike Adam, Jesus did not attempt to seize the “likeness with God.” Instead, he “poured himself out and took the form of a servant<…> becoming obedient unto death, even, the death of the cross” – (Philippians 2:6-8).

Shortly before his death, Jesus broke bread and told the disciples to eat it, “for this is my body,” then he passed the cup and told them to drink its contents, “for this is my blood of the covenant.” The “Son of Abraham” came to consummate the Covenant and redeem its many promises. Once more, Jesus used language from the Book of Isaiah:

• “I, Yahweh, have called you in righteousness and will hold your hand, and will keep you and give you for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles” – (Isaiah 42:6, Matthew 26:26-28).

After his Death and Resurrection, Jesus received “All authority in Heaven and on Earth.” He became the Messianic King, and therefore, he sent his disciples to proclaim the Good News of his triumph to “all the nations.” His enthronement came only after paying a great price, his unjust death on the Roman cross. It is the suffering “Servant of Yahweh” who sits on the Davidic Throne, both now and forever.

Jesus of Nazareth is the Servant of Yahweh who “gave his life a ransom for many.” Neither his identity, mission nor his reign can be understood apart from his sacrificial act. The Royal Road to Zion began at the Jordan River and ended with his Death and Resurrection. Moreover, Christ’s life is the model and imperative for how we as his disciples must live in this sin-dominated world – as servants and priests.

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SEE ALSO:

• The Salvation of Yahweh - (‘Jesus’ means ‘Yahweh saves.’ In the man from Nazareth, the salvation promised by the God of Israel arrived in all its glory)

• The Son of Abraham - (Jesus is the Son of Abraham, heir of the promises, the Anointed King who fulfills and implements the inheritance of his people)

• David's Son - (Jesus is the son of David, the heir to the Messianic Throne, the beloved Son of God, and the Suffering Servant of Yahweh)

• The Voice in the Wilderness - (John the Baptist prepared the way for the Messiah’s arrival, the herald of the Good News of the Kingdom of God – Mark 1:4-8)