The Lord's Servants Speaks

Isaiah chapter 49. We're going to read the first seven verses.! Listen to me, you islands. Hear this, you distant nations.

Before I was born, the Lord called me, and from my birth he made mention of my name. He has made mention of my name. He made my mouth like a sharpened sword.

In the shadow of his hand he hid me. He made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in his quiver. He said to me, you are my servant, Israel, in whom I will display my splendor.

But I said, I have labored to no purpose. I have spent my strength in vain and for nothing. Yet what is due me is in the Lord's hand, and my reward is with my God.

And now the Lord says, he who formed me in the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself, for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord, and my God has been my strength.

He says, it is too small a thing for you to be my servant, to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.

This is what the Lord says, the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel, to him who was despised and abhorred by the nation, to the servant of the servant of the servant of the servant of the rulers. Kings will see you and rise up.

Princes will see and bow down because of the Lord who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel who has chosen you. It's over.

The 70 years of captivity, enslavement in Babylon is going to end for Israel.

So for the last nine chapters, Isaiah has been announcing the good news that Israel is going to be set free from their bondage in Babylon and brought back to the promised land.

But it's one thing for the nation to be brought back into the land of promise. It is another thing altogether different for that nation to be brought back to God.

It's more than more is needed than a change of location from Babylon to the promised land. They need a change of heart. They need their hearts turned back to God.

A greater redemption is needed than captivity to the Babylonians. They needed to be saved from their captivity to sin and to their idolatry.

And this now becomes the focus of the next section in Isaiah. Throughout the previous section, we've seen Cyrus was God's servant that he raised up to bring Israel back into the land.

But now at the end of now at chapter 49, the focus is on the coming Christ, the servant of the Lord. He is the servant that God will raise up to save his people from their sins.

And this greater captivity then is to be solved by a greater Savior, the only Savior, the only mediator between God and man.

And though the coming Messiah is never far from view in the whole book of Isaiah, it is in this section now that we begin that he's especially brought front and center before us.

In our text, we have the second servant of the Lord's songs. There's four of them in the book of Isaiah. We have the second. The first was back in chapter 41 where the Lord spoke of his servant.

Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight. I will put my spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations. That was the first of the servant songs.

But in this second song, we do not have God the Father speaking of his servant son. We rather have the servant of the Lord himself speaking to us.

And in this chapter, he is demanding your attention. Yes, your attention. He has something important to say to the whole world down to the to the last island and the farthest nation.

He says in verse one, listen to me. This is Christ, the servant of the Lord. Listen to me, you islands. Hear this, you distant nations. Now, Moses said of this servant of the Lord that you must listen to everything he tells you, because anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from among his people.

And when this servant of the Lord went up on the Mount of Transfiguration and his glory was made known to three of his disciples, the Lord God thundered from heaven.

This is my beloved son. Listen to him. And now here he is speaking to us this morning and he's saying, listen to me.

And what he has to tell us is unbelievably good news for the whole world. And as we go through this, these seven verses, you'll see why it is that we should listen to him.

We, Gentiles, in a distant nation, very distant from Israel. And so the first point is the servant's audience, and it is the whole world, including you.

Secondly, we see in this passage, the servant's mission. Verse one, before I was born, the Lord called me from my birth. He has made mention of my name.

Notice it's a divine mission. He's called by the Lord, Yahweh, the God of Israel. And he says in verse three, the servant is telling us what the Lord God said to him.

He said to me, this is God the Son telling us what God the Father told him even before he was born. You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will display my splendor.

So even before he was born, he was called the Lord's servant. You're my servant, Jehovah said to him.

Now this was Jesus' self-conscious identity. Who am I? I am the servant of the Lord. I exist to serve the Lord God. I'm not here for myself.

I'm here for him. A servant is consumed with one thing. Not what do I want? But what does my master, the one who sent me, want? And so Jesus, even from his early years, knew that this is why he was born, to be the servant of the Lord.

Remember at age 12, when his earthly parents scolded him upon finding him in the temple at Jerusalem. Didn't you know I had to be about my father's business?

My father's mission. That's why I'm here. I'm his servant, you see. And notice what that business was. What was that mission? Well, we have it right here before us.

First of all, to display the splendor of God. You're my servant, Israel, in whom I will display my splendor. This sinful world was to have the glory and beauty of God himself displayed in this servant, Jesus Christ.

This would be seen both in his person and his work. First in his person, who he is. Who is he? Well, the sun is the radiance of God's glory.

The exact representation of his being. Hebrews 1.3. Jesus was a walking display of God's splendor. When you saw Jesus, you saw the splendor of God.

All of his attributes were attributes of God. For he is God. Emmanuel. God with us. And he says, if you have seen me, you've seen the father.

And as John says, we saw it. We saw that glory. The word was made flesh and dwelled among us. And we beheld his glory. The glory of the one and only who came from the father, full of grace and truth.

Peter says of that glory that he saw on the Mount of Transfiguration that lit up the clothes and face of Jesus. We were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

The radiance of God's glory. The display of his splendor in this servant. That's why he's come. To display the splendor of God. That was his mission. Not only in his person, but also in his works.

What he did. For what? For he did the works that only God could do. Displaying God's glory in doing so. So in John chapter two, he turns the water into wine.

In a moment. And after doing so. And John records it. He says this. This was this. The first of his miraculous signs.

Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He thus revealed his glory. Glory. And his disciples put their trust in him. In all he did.

He revealed his glory, which was the glory of God almighty. And especially it would be his work on Calvary that would display the splendor.

Of God's glory. The wonder of God. For it's there that we see as in no other place. The wrath of God. The power of God. The justice of God. The righteousness of God.

The love of God. The mercy and grace. The faithfulness of God. He demonstrated God's love and glory. Through his work on Calvary.

So that's his mission. To display the splendor of God. Now you're asking. Why is the servant of the Lord called Israel in this passage? Well, because Jesus is the only true Israelite.

You remember that Israel too was called by God to display his splendor to the nations. By walking with him in fellowship with him. Keeping his laws.

Trusting in him. They were to display to the nations. How great their God was. And in doing so, they were to bring the nations to worship him.

But rather than doing so, they turned their back on this great God of glory. And they went after idols. The idols of the nations. As if to say, your idols have greater splendor than mine.

Our God does. They completely failed in their mission. And though they called themselves by the name of Israel. What we saw in chapter 48. That it was not in truth and righteousness.

They had forfeited the right to be called the Israel of God. And so does God's plan just fail? Never. Never. Instead, God raises up a true and worthy Israel.

Who will live up to the name. He is the Lord's true servant. Who did obey at every point where Israel disobeyed.

Who succeeds at every point that Israel failed. Jesus Christ. He is all that Old Testament Israel should have been.

And so he is called the Israel. In whom God will be glorified rather than defamed and dishonored. And this was the mission for which the servant was formed in the womb.

To display God's splendor. But that mission is spelled out in greater detail. In the second place. His mission is to bring Israel back to God.

He is to bring the remnant in Israel back to God. Remember Cyrus was the servant God used and raised up to bring Israel back into the land.

Now this servant is the servant God will use to bring the tribes of Israel back to the Lord. This is the greater redemption. Verse 5.

Notice it. And now the Lord says. This is Jesus speaking about what his father said. Now the Lord says. He who formed me in the womb to be his servant. To bring Jacob back to him.

And to gather Israel to himself. Not just to bring them back in the land. But to bring them to himself. That's what conversion is. We were all going astray from God.

And in conversion God brings us back to himself. Conversion is turning to a person. To God. From our own sinful ways.

And that's what this servant will do. These Israelites who are wondering. Will be brought back. To God. Out of these stiff necked rebels.

With their fingers in their ears. And their backs toward God. This servant will bring a remnant of them. To repent. And to return to the Lord. And oh what a display of God's glory that will be.

Those running from God are now returning to him. Those with no heart for God are now loving, obeying and worshiping him. And the way that God brings these wandering sheep back to the Lord is truly amazing.

And Isaiah will tell us that in this section when we come to chapter 53. And we'll see how is it that the servant of the Lord brings these wandering Israelites back to the Lord.

It is by his own condemnation on the cross in their place. This is the mission of this servant.

And it's something that he has done. And indeed is doing. When we see him arriving on the scenes. What do we find? We find him regathering a remnant from Israel.

His 11 disciples. His 12 disciples. They were Jewish. 11 of them were gathered back to the Lord. They were Jews. From the tribes of Israel.

There was that 120 Jews in Jerusalem praying for the coming of the Spirit. Those were from the tribes of Israel that had been brought back to the Lord. Peter preaches on the day of Pentecost.

3,000. They are Jews. They are from the tribes of Israel. And they are being gathered back to the Lord. Even as God had said and planned for this servant of the Lord to do. And you can read right on through the book of Acts.

And you see Isaiah 49 being fulfilled. The mission of bringing back the tribes. This remnant of those that God had kept from Israel.

But there's more. And the third part of his mission was to bring salvation to Gentiles all over the world. This is where it gets interesting. Because we're Gentiles.

And he says in verse 6. This is what God the Father said to God the Son. It's too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob.

And to bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will make you a light for the Gentiles. That you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.

Now this is why we ought to be listening. To what the servant of the Lord is saying. He's talking about us. We Gentiles had the same problem Israel had.

We all like sheep had gone astray. We had turned each one of us to our own way. And this servant. Is going to bring light. To us sitting in our gloomy darkness.

With no hope at all in the world. As we're condemned because of our sin. And he is going to bring God's salvation to us Gentiles. Who are unfit for the presence of God because of our sins.

His mission is to bring Gentiles also into a right relationship with God. To bring us to repentance. To bring our hearts back to God.

Our creator from whom we have strayed. And gone astray from. How God's splendor is being displayed. As the servant.

Is bringing from the nations Gentiles. Into his family. What a mission for this servant. How it displays the splendor of God.

As he fulfills it. Bringing wandering Jews and Gentiles. Back to God. Saving them both by his amazing grace.

So that's the servant's mission. We go on to the servant's preparation. The greater the mission. The greater the preparation needed. And it's the Lord who called him. And appointed him to this mission.

And he's the one who prepared him for it. Verse 2. Again we have Jesus talking about. The servant talking about God the Father. He made my mouth like a sharpened sword.

In the shadow of his hand he hid me. He made me into a polished arrow. And concealed me in his quiver. Now here's a familiar battle scene.

It's the night before the battle. And the warriors are all gathered around the campfire. And some are sharpening swords. And others are polishing their arrows. They're preparing for the battle.

This is a picture of God the Father preparing his son. For battle. The first thing we notice are weapons. A sword. And an arrow. Indicating that the Lord's servant is going to meet with opposition.

In his mission. There will be warfare. Count on it. Weapons are needed. But oh these weapons are so different from those that Cyrus used.

To conquer the Babylonians. And set the Israelites free. These weapons are spiritual weapons. Mighty through God. To the pulling down of strongholds.

Like men's self-righteousness. And unbelief. And pride. And love of sin. No these are spiritual weapons. The Lord Jesus himself. Is called a weapon.

And especially his mouth. His mouth. That's important. He made my mouth. Like a sharpened sword. Jesus work is to be a preacher.

A speaker of words. He is to fight. Not with swords loud clashing. But with words. He will make war. On behalf.

Of truth. And righteousness. It will be with the force of truth. Spoken. That would pierce the heart. And set men free. Weapons. Of words.

And so he sharpened. The sword. God the father sharpened my. And sharpened my mouth. Like a sharpened sword.

Sharp swords are effective. They pierce right through the mail of armor. They cut right through that leather garment. For the word of God.

Is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword. And it does penetrate. Even to dividing soul and spirit. Joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and attitudes.

Of the heart. Uncovering. And laying bare everything. What do we see when this servant of the Lord. Comes.

We see. How often. His enemies tried to trip him up. In something he said. But it was all. To no avail. Whatever their trick questions.

What do we find in the gospels. We find Jesus answering them. In such a way. That they look like the fools. Rather than him. And they come to a point. Where they no longer asked him. Any more questions.

Because. His mouth. Was a sharpened sword. He was prepared. By his father. And that sword. Of his mouth.

Penetrated to the secrets. Of men's hearts. He says to the woman. At the well. Go call your husband. I don't have a husband.

You're right. You've had five. And the man you now have. Is not your husband. How did he know that? God the father sharpened.

His sword. And he spoke words. That penetrated. To the very secrets. Of men's hearts. Those sent to arrest him.

Returned empty handed. Back to the temple. Leaders. And they said. Where is he? Why didn't you bring him in? And they said. Never man spoke. Like this man. And after the sermon.

On the mount. The crowds were amazed. At him. Because he spoke. With authority. You see. It was. Divine authority. God had sharpened.

His sword. His mouth. And the crowds were amazed. Where did he get this wisdom? The Lord had prepared his servant. But his preparation by God.

Was more than his mouth. It was entire. His entire being. He says here. He made me. Into a polished arrow. All that I am. Is a weapon.

Here. A polished arrow. A weapon. In the hand of God. So here's the archers. And they're preparing. For battle.

The next day. And they're smoothing out. Any rough spots. In their arrows. Why? So that. When shot. It will go straight. To the mark. It will accomplish.

Exactly. What they had in mind. When they let it fly. Here is God. Preparing his servant. Polishing his arrow. To accomplish. His mission. And oh how God.

Polished his arrow. Teaching him obedience. By the things that he suffered. Because in working out salvation. For Jews and Gentiles.

He would need to be obedient. Even unto death. The death of the cross. So he must be prepared. He must be polished. To obey God. In whatever he commanded.

It. Especially when he would say. Go and be damned. For my people. So he's polishing. His arrow. And so Jesus experiences.

Physical pain. As he's growing up. Why? Because. He will need to. Stand in the face. Of physical pain. When God lets him fly.

On his mission. We see him experiencing. The sorrow. Of losing his earthly father. We don't know much about it. He just is not there anymore. And Jesus heart.

Was broken with sorrow. Because. The mission. Would involve. Being. The man of sorrows. Familiar. With grief. It's all.

And then everything involved. In taking care of his mother. As he's growing up. And. Into a young manhood. And. Now he's caring for his mother. Because in the mission. He must care for his family.

The family of God. And he's feeling all alone. Because he was to feel. The greater abandonment. On the cross. They were long years of waiting. Being tempted. In every way.

Like we are. He's learning obedience. Through the things that he suffered. Every. Single. Incident. In Jesus. Life. Was sharpening the sword.

Polishing. The arrow. To accomplish. His saving mission. The servant's. Preparation. We come then. Fourthly. To the servant's.

Concealment. Notice in this verse. The concealment. Of the weapon. He made my mouth. Like a sharpened sword. In the shadow of his hand. He hid me.

He made me. Into a polished arrow. And concealed me. In his quiver. So the servant of the Lord. Is himself. A concealed weapon. Kids. You know what weapons are.

But concealed weapons. Are weapons you don't see. They're. They're hidden away. Out of the sight of men. And that's what Jesus was. He was a polished arrow. A dangerous.

Mighty weapon. But he's. In the quiver. Where men could not see him. Hidden away. By God. The father. Father. This is.

The savior. Being prepared. By God. For his mission. The one who created. The stars. Whom angels worship. Who in. Very nature. Is God.

In becoming man. He made himself. Nothing. A nobody. A nobody. Without reputation. Taking the form. The nature.

Of a servant. So he wasn't born in. In Jerusalem. Where the. The high and the mighty were. But in a little town. Of Bethlehem. His entrance into the world. Was not seen by thousands.

But only a few. Lowly shepherds. He's not brought up. In some major. City. But hidden in some. Backwater town. Off the beaten path. Like Nazareth.

Nazareth. Can any good thing. Come from. Nazareth. Be like. Tyner. Or. Tea garden. Can any good. These places.

Are no place. Nobody even pays attention. To what's going on there. That's where Jesus. Was. The arrow. Was concealed. In the quiver. As God. Was preparing him.

And. Reading him. For his mission. He was hidden away. In obscurity. Years. Of. Of. Of. His life. Up to 30. The age of 30.

And. And we. We know very little about it. And our curiosity says. What. What happened. What. What was Jesus doing. For those first 30 years. We're told precious little. Hidden away.

Hidden away. By the father. He's got his polished. He's polished. Preparing him. But in obscurity. And year followed year. With.

Unimportant. Ordinary. Things of life. Happening. Day after day. Working. Perhaps. In the carpenter shop. Doing hard labor. Sweating. Learning. To take care of.

His mother. All the things. That were happening. Do you ever feel. Like not much is happening. In your life. Just the same old.

Same old. Getting up. Going to work. Doing the same tasks. The laundry. The dishes. Again. Another round. Another round. And it doesn't seem to be going anywhere.

The father was preparing. His concealed weapon. The very best. Kept secret. This world. Has ever known. Until he shot him forth. Into public ministry.

When he was 30 years old. And came to his baptism. When you feel like. Not much is happening. In your life. Remember.

There are no wasted years. No wasted moments. No wasted days. On God's calendar. For you. God is polishing his arrow.

He knows best. How to get the rough edges off. Remember. Joseph spent many years. In slavery. Before. God shot him forth. To be the second in command. Under Pharaoh.

Moses. Spends 40 years. In Egypt. And another 40. On the backside. Of the wilderness. Before he's ever called. And shot forth. Into his service. Of leading. Israel. Out of Egypt.

So with David. Years with sheep. And feet. Fleeing from Saul. Before he ever becomes king. And a pattern. Is emerging. And the pattern is this. God prepares his servants. For their work in his kingdom.

And it would be no different. For his servant. The Lord Jesus Christ. Everything. Going on in your life. Is preparation. For your life's mission.

Don't forget that. It will put meaning. Into the most tedious. Menial. Menial thing. That you do. God's splendor. Is to be displayed.

Through you. No wasted trials. No wasted tears. No wasted heartaches. Or frustrating circumstances. The Lord Jesus.

Went this way. Before us. As God. Was preparing. His servant. In concealment. The fifth thing. We notice. In this passage. Is the servant's complaint.

And perhaps. It's the most shocking. Thing that we read. So the eternal son of God. Was called by God. Before his birth. To be his servant. To accomplish this mission. Amazing mission.

Of causing God. To be seen. To be. Be glorious. As he would bring back. These. The remnant from Israel. And would also save. Gentiles. He's prepared.

In concealment. For the first 30 years. Of his life. And then. Finally. At his baptism. He's thrust onto the stage. Of public ministry.

And he's glad. To be his father's. Servant. And he pours himself. Out. In his mission. Nobody ever. Worked harder. Than the Lord Jesus.

Did. To accomplish. A mission. Long days. Preaching. And healing. And traveling. Wherever he went. Weary nights. In prayer.

No effort. Spared. So much. So that he sits. Exhausted. On a well. And it's just noon. Another time. We find him. Sleeping. In a boat. In the midst. Of a storm.

At sea. He was spent. His energies. Were gone. And what does he find. For all this energy. That he's poured. Into this mission. That his father.

Has prepared him for. He was despised. And rejected. By men. And they didn't pay attention to him.

They didn't want him. Though he came to his own. His own received him not. He came calling them to repent. And to turn back to God.

That was his mission. To turn them back. Repent. Turn back to God. And they plugged their ears. And they stiffened their neck.

And they would not turn. That's what he met with. In his mission. He was even betrayed.

By one of his own disciples. And the other eleven. All forsook him. And fled. In his greatest hour of need. And left him all alone. That's what he met with.

And the crowds that cried Hosanna. Turned on him. And they chose a murderer Barabbas. Instead of the king of glory. And they mocked his claims.

As he died on the cross. And they insulted him. And heaped abuse upon him. And he dies alone. Even feeling forsaken. By his God. My God.

My God. Why have you. Forsaken me. Has it all come to this? I wonder.

If you've considered Calvary. Recently. From the man Jesus's perspective. Have you considered. What it must have been.

To come to the end of your earthly ministry. And to be hanging on a cross. And looking. At what you have accomplished. At the cross.

He didn't have a whole lot. To show. For all of his work. All his labors expended. On his mission.

To turn Israel back. To the Lord. And if you think. For a moment. That all this stuff. Just runs off his back. Unfelt. You don't know.

The Jesus of the Bible. No. You need to. To listen. To this servant. Of the Lord. As he cries out.

In verse four. I have labored. To no purpose. I have spent. My strength. In vain. And for nothing.

I wonder. If you've been there. Or maybe are there. There are missionaries. Pastors. Sunday school teachers.

Youth workers. Parents. Who may feel. This way. This morning. That for all their labors. And prayers. There's nothing. To show for it. Husbands.

And wives. And difficult marriages. See no fruit. From their labors. Men and women. Laboring hard. At their jobs. That God has given them. To display.

His splendor. At. And yet. It seems. That it's going nowhere. It's a dead end situation. Perhaps even being terminated. People laboring hard.

For good health. But it's all in vain. The more they strive. The more fleeting. Their health becomes. People waiting on the Lord. And seeing. Nothing.

Accomplished. Our passage. Our passage. Tells us. That there's a man. A real man. At the throne of God. In heaven. Who has felt that way.

I've labored. In vain. For nothing. He felt that. We hear him. Say that. In verse four.

Because. Our passage. Tells us. We have one. Who's able to. To sympathize. With us then. When we are in that condition.

Because he. In becoming man. Really. Was made like us. In every way. Sin only. Accepted. Who lived.

Where we lived. In a cursed world. Full of frustration. And disappointments. And. Vanity. And who lived. How we lived.

Hear me on this. As a man. Jesus lived. How we live. Independence. Upon his father. He lived. How we live. Not by faith. Not by sight.

But by faith. And what he saw. Was hopeless. Failure. Defeat. But he had to press through that defeat.

And failure. And see by faith. Just like you do. In all of your frustrations. He was tempted in every way. Just as we are.

He felt what we feel. Our anguish. Our disappointments. Even our temptations. To sinful. Despondency. And despair. And sinful discouragement.

Yet he never crossed over that line. We have a sympathetic savior saying. I know. I know. I've been there. Come and pour out your hearts to me. The servants complaint.

But it's quickly followed. Indeed. As it were. In the same breath. By the servants trust. How did Jesus deal with disappointment. In his mission.

Though it appears. That he had spent his strength in vain. He doesn't end there. In verse 4. Doesn't end there. It's just his first thought. If you will.

As he says on other occasions. What. And as he comes. Thinking about Calvary. And he says. What shall I pray? Shall I pray? Save me from this hour? That's his first thought. It doesn't end there.

Or it would have been a sinful thing. For him to remain there. Shall I pray? Save me from this hour? But no Lord. No. That shall never be. Because it was for this hour. That I came.

To this place. Glorify yourself. We have something similar here. I've spent my strength in vain. Yet. He's not done speaking. He's not done dealing.

With this temptation. To despair. Yet. He says. What is do me. Is in. The Lord's hand. And my reward. Is with my God.

Though it appeared. There was no fruit. For his labor. He is sure. He is confident. That his labor. Is not in vain. In the Lord. His God. Will give the increase. The reward.

Is in his hand. And he will give it. He is the one. Who determines. What. Result. To put on my ministry. And mission. And when to give it.

And he rests. In that. He acts faith. In. God's. Mission. For him. In God's word. To him. Even.

Even in the darkest. Of nights. In the moment. Of his. Seeming defeat. He dares to believe. In the unseen. Joys. Of bringing many. Sons.

To glory. And so. He deals. With disappointment. What kept him. From unbelief. And despair. In his darkest hour. How does he.

Press through. All that darkness. Well he remembers. What his heavenly father. Had said to him. The one who formed him. In the womb. Verse five. To be his servant.

To bring back. Jacob to him. And gather Israel. To himself. He's saying to him. Is this God's purpose. For me. Is he the one. Who called me. Did he call me. To bring Israel back. To bring the Gentiles.

In. Well then. It will be fulfilled. My reward. Is in his hand. And he rests. With that. Tempting despair.

Gives way. To confident. Trust. And sure hope. Because of what God. Had said. To him. What had the father. Said to him. Well he had said to him. Verse six. That merely restoring.

The remnant of Israel. To God. Was not a great enough. Mission. For you. You were too honorable. You were too mighty. You were too strong. Just to have such a.

A dinky little mission. To bring a few. Wandering Jews. Back to me. That's what God told his son. Your worth is far greater son.

You see. The father. Was honoring his son. And though the world. Was dishonoring him. He looks at his father's face. And he sees how his father. Had honored him.

And giving him this mission. It's too small a thing. Just to. To save. The remnant. Of Israel. I will also make you. To be a light.

For the Gentiles. So that you may bring. My salvation. To the ends. Of the earth. That will be something. Grand and glorious. Worthy of your splendor. And fame. That's more in line.

With your worth. So that is your mission. And Jesus is thinking. Of this. In the midst of his. Discouragements. Father has given me.

This mission. He's honored me. With it. And so far. Was he from failing. In his mission. To Israel. That he would accomplish. Far more. Even the salvation. Of the Gentiles.

And you're sitting. In that pew. Or that seat. This morning. Dear beloved. Christian. Is proof. Positive. That the mission. Did not fail. You have been brought.

Back to God. And by who I ask. By the servant. Of the Lord. That God. Before his birth. Called. To this mission. Prepared.

Concealed. Shot forth. And accomplished. Even when it appeared. To be complete defeat. For Jesus. Do you see the trust.

Of the servant. I have a wonderful thing. In Hebrews chapter 11. That great chapter of faith. Men and women. Who trusted in God. But the greatest hero of faith.

Is not found in chapter 11. He's found in the first verses. Of chapter 12. It is Jesus. Who for the joy. Set before him.

Endured the cross. Scorning its shame. And sat down. At the right hand of God. Jesus is the man of faith. Par excellence. And he had to do. As you have to do.

In the midst of your discouragements. And trials. And troubles. That seem to be going nowhere. He looked. To the unseen. He remembered. The promise of God.

He remembered. The purpose. Of what God said. To him. Even. When he was. With the father. Before he was born. That's the way.

We too. Are to fight. Through our discouragements. And seeming. Efforts. Expended. In vain. Never look at a problem.

Without remembering. What God has said. You'll sink in despair. Oh. But remembering. What God has said. Clinging to his promise.

Lifts us. To hope. Confident. Expectation. Even. As it did. Our Lord Jesus. We. See the passage. End with the servant's glory.

We've seen him low. Haven't we? And we. See him high. The heavenly father. Is again speaking. To his servant son. This is what the Lord says.

The redeemer. And holy one of Israel. To him. Who was despised. And abhorred. By the nation. To the servant of nations. Jesus. The servant of rulers.

And this is what the father says. To the son. Kings will see you. And rise up. Princes will see. And bow down. Why? Because of Yahweh.

The Lord. Who is faithful. The holy one of Israel. Who has chosen you. And so the father promises his son. That though he had been despised.

And abhorred by the nation. Brought very low. That after his sufferings. There would be glory. There would be exaltation. After the cross.

A crown. He says to his son. Kings and princes. The great ones of this earth. Are going to rise up. Out of their thrones.

At your presence. And bow down. And pay tribute. In homage. In worship. Recognizing. Your value. Your glory. Your worth.

The mission. Was to succeed. His reward. Is with God. It's in his hand. And he will give him. Not only the remnant from Israel.

But the nations for his inheritance. And the uttermost parts of the earth. For his possession. Why? Because he humbled himself. As all servants do.

But he was the ultimate servant of the Lord. And he humbled himself. And became obedient unto death. Even the death of the cross. Therefore. God has highly exalted him.

Given him a name. Above every other name. That at the name of Jesus. Every knee. Should bow. Even rulers. And kings. They'll bow.

They'll bow. Either now. In true repentance. Or later. When it's too late. They'll still bow. And acknowledge. That Jesus. Is king. Is lord. And master.

Overall. Amen. Whoever humbles himself. Will be exalted. And that was true. Of the servant. Of the Lord. To the glory of God.

The father. Who chose him. For this mission. Who equipped him. And prepared him. Who shot him forth. And strengthened him. And who is faithful. To bring about.

Its success. So we've listened. This morning. To the servant of the Lord. He's been talking to us. He's been talking to us. About his mission. About.

His frustration. About his faith. About his father. And what his father. Has said to him. And what a difference. That made.

In carrying out. His mission. In the face. Of frustration. And he's told us. About his mission's. Ultimate glory. And success.

Now what's your response. To what. This servant of the Lord. Has told us. Do you see. Why he demands. A hearing. From the whole world.

From every island. And distant nations. Why we. Are being called upon. Way over here. In the United States. Of America. To listen to a man. Who grew up. In Palestine.

Of Israel. Because the message. Concerns us. Doesn't it? He's the only light. And salvation. Not only for Jews. But for the whole world.

Listen to me. He says. That's why I came. And I ask you. What's your response. To that? Is he glorious. In your eyes? Do you see any beauty. In him.

This morning. Just from. From his mission. And what he did. What he accomplished. That makes you want to. Fall at his feet. And worship him. And just to say. Lord Jesus.

Take my life. And all that I am. All that I ever hope to be. All my dreams. All my plans. Just take it all. And you be Lord. Here. Don't you love such a savior.

Who stooped so low. To lift us up. To his own heavenly throne. In heaven. And dear believer. In your discouragements. Will you not trust. Will you not trust.

In the father's faithfulness. Even as Jesus did. As he trusted. To the bitter end. As he was working out. Your salvation. Follow in his steps.

Trust him. Will you. Not be amazed. All over again. That you should be a part. Of his reward. That eternal covenant.

Between God the father. And God the son. When the father said. To the son. You go. And die. For my. For your people. That I will give you. And if you go. And suffer.

And die for them. I will raise you. From the dead. And I will exalt you. To my own right hand. That was the reward. For his suffering. I will gather. My people to you.

And give them to you. The nations. For your inheritance. That was his reward. If you're a Christian. This morning. You are part of the reward. That was in the father's hand.

That he has given. To his son. For his great work. Of redemption. Has it ever struck you. Why should I gain. From his reward. Lord. I cannot.

Give an answer. But this I know. With all my heart. His wounds have paid. My ransom. Let's sing that. Stand with me. From your grace hymns. Number three.

How deep the father's love for us. Oh Lord. We'd read before. That you became a man. And. We're tempted in every way. Like we are. Yet without sin.

But how we thank you for this. Picture of Isaiah 49. That took us right into your life. And right into your disappointments.

And showed us. How indeed. You've been where we've been. And you've suffered what we've suffered. And you've taught us. How to triumph. In the face of frustration.

And what would otherwise be. Total darkness. And hopeless despair. You've taught us to lift up our heads. To look to our faces. Father in heaven. Who has spoken words.

Of grace. Of grace. And comfort. And of hope to us. In the gospel. So would you help. Those who are very low. In our congregation.

To look high. To trust in the Savior. To see that there is grace in him. To live in the darkest of nights. With faith.

And hope. And love. For God. Do it to bring splendor. To you our God. That even in us. Something of your glory. Might be seen.

And bring other sinners. To find hope. In the wounds of Christ. We ask in his name. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Thank you.