[The following is a manuscript of my sermon delivered on Sunday morning, the 4th of December, 2016, the 2nd Sunday in Advent. Look for the video on our Vimeo channel: http://vimeo.com/pilgrimreformedchurch.]
Today is the second Sunday in Advent, and we still anxiously await the coming of our Messiah, promised so long ago. Last week we looked at a passage in the Book of Isaiah where that great prophet told of Jesus’ coming over 700 years before His birth! If there is any doubt that Isaiah was indeed referring to Jesus, even if not by name, we can dispel that doubt by examining another passage in Isaiah’s prophecy where he very clearly describes our Lord.
Listen and follow along as I read from Isaiah chapter 42, verses 1 through 5, from the New King James Version of our Holy Bible…
Listen and follow along as I read from Isaiah chapter 42, verses 1 through 5, from the New King James Version of our Holy Bible…
1 “Behold! My Servant whom I uphold,
My Elect One in whom My soul delights!
I have put My Spirit upon Him;
He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.
2 He will not cry out, nor raise His voice,
Nor cause His voice to be heard in the street.
3 A bruised reed He will not break,
And smoking flax He will not quench;
He will bring forth justice for truth.
4 He will not fail nor be discouraged,
Till He has established justice in the earth;
And the coastlands shall wait for His law.”
5 Thus says God the Lord,
Who created the heavens and stretched them out,
Who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it,
Who gives breath to the people on it,
And spirit to those who walk on it.
--Isaiah 42:1-5 (NKJV)
Let us pray… Father God, we have come together this morning to worship You, and to listen as You speak quietly to us in our innermost heart. Help us to more clearly understand Your word and Your will for each of us, that we might better serve You. In the wonderful name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
A young woman in New York held what was considered to be a great position in a school attended by children from wealthy homes. Suddenly she gave it all up and went to teach in one of the most squalid districts on the East Side.
"These East Side kids have so little," she explained. "School is the one bright spot in their lives. I feel almost like a fairy godmother when in their midst. The children in my other school had everything. They even were conveyed to the schoolroom door by nurses and chauffeurs. There was no 'kick' in it for me."
A trained nurse was asked if she didn’t grow weary of her work. She replied: "Yes, when I have to attend to rich patients who might hire someone else to wait on them; then my head aches and my hands are heavy. But give me my basket of foods and medicines, and let me go among the poor who can pay me only with their eyes, and I can imagine no greater happiness. Heaven! There I ask the Lord of Paradise to give me at least August vacation that I may spend the dog days in the slums. I am sure He will, for did not Christ find it His calling to do the will of His Father in just such places?"
True-life testimonies such as these prove that Jesus was right when He stressed the fact that the joy that comes from helping others is the richest reward one can experience in life. Both the teacher and the nurse found their greatest reward in helping others, and specifically in helping those who needed it the most. They were servants- of the people in need, and of God.
As we ponder today’s passage from Isaiah, we need to understand that the words are coming from God. The first 4 verses are all God, speaking to us through His prophet, and He tells His people that a Servant comes. God is talking about His Servant, His Elect One, and those words are all capitalized in my version, which means that God is speaking of His Son Jesus!
A servant serves, plain and simple. In ancient times, during the life of Isaiah and still while Jesus walked this earth, being a servant was not an enviable position. It was far worse than what the teacher and the nurse described when working for the wealthier folks. But this is the role God willed for Jesus, and the role our Lord gladly accepted.
There was an incident when the disciples were arguing over which of them was greater in God’s eyes. The Apostle Matthew recounts it like this, from his Gospel record, chapter 20, verses 25 through 28…
A young woman in New York held what was considered to be a great position in a school attended by children from wealthy homes. Suddenly she gave it all up and went to teach in one of the most squalid districts on the East Side.
"These East Side kids have so little," she explained. "School is the one bright spot in their lives. I feel almost like a fairy godmother when in their midst. The children in my other school had everything. They even were conveyed to the schoolroom door by nurses and chauffeurs. There was no 'kick' in it for me."
A trained nurse was asked if she didn’t grow weary of her work. She replied: "Yes, when I have to attend to rich patients who might hire someone else to wait on them; then my head aches and my hands are heavy. But give me my basket of foods and medicines, and let me go among the poor who can pay me only with their eyes, and I can imagine no greater happiness. Heaven! There I ask the Lord of Paradise to give me at least August vacation that I may spend the dog days in the slums. I am sure He will, for did not Christ find it His calling to do the will of His Father in just such places?"
True-life testimonies such as these prove that Jesus was right when He stressed the fact that the joy that comes from helping others is the richest reward one can experience in life. Both the teacher and the nurse found their greatest reward in helping others, and specifically in helping those who needed it the most. They were servants- of the people in need, and of God.
As we ponder today’s passage from Isaiah, we need to understand that the words are coming from God. The first 4 verses are all God, speaking to us through His prophet, and He tells His people that a Servant comes. God is talking about His Servant, His Elect One, and those words are all capitalized in my version, which means that God is speaking of His Son Jesus!
A servant serves, plain and simple. In ancient times, during the life of Isaiah and still while Jesus walked this earth, being a servant was not an enviable position. It was far worse than what the teacher and the nurse described when working for the wealthier folks. But this is the role God willed for Jesus, and the role our Lord gladly accepted.
There was an incident when the disciples were arguing over which of them was greater in God’s eyes. The Apostle Matthew recounts it like this, from his Gospel record, chapter 20, verses 25 through 28…
25 [But] Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
--Matthew 20:25-28 (NKJV)
A little further on in Matthew’s Gospel, in chapter 23, verses 11 and 12, Jesus reiterates the importance of service…
The Apostle Mark, ever thrifty in his use of words, records it like this, in the 9th chapter of his Gospel account, verse 35…
Who is greatest in God’s eyes? The one who puts themselves last in the eyes of man, the least of us: the servant. Who will be first to receive their rewards, who will be exalted and lifted up? The one who puts themselves last here on earth, who puts the needs and well-being of others ahead of even their own.
God called Jesus His Servant. Jesus said He came to serve, not to be served. Do you think that maybe God wants us to follow the same example? If we claim to be followers of Jesus, if we call Him Lord and really mean it, shouldn’t we also serve God by serving others, just as Jesus did?
In the Gospel according to the Apostle John, chapter 12 verse 26, Jesus makes a promise…
If we do accept the lowly position of servant, then we will follow Jesus and be where He is. Where is He? In the inner city schools attended by the poorest of children. In the slums, tending to those who can only pay with the look of love and appreciation in their eyes. In the temples speaking to those who just don’t completely understand, and in the streets with those who do not yet believe. Among the sinners, the poor, the needy, the overlooked, the ignored, the institutionalized, the marginalized, the invisible.
What is the promise I spoke of? If we accept the job of servant and serve those like Christ Jesus served, and if in doing so we also serve Him, then His Father will honor us. Our heavenly Father God will honor us.
Of course, we must be careful to serve only Jesus, for in the Gospel account of Luke, chapter 16 verse 13, our Lord warns…
Now earlier I spoke of rewards we will receive from our heavenly Father for our service to His Son. But those rewards aren’t all in heaven, are they. Both the teacher and the nurse spoke of the rewards they receive right here, right now, on earth when they serve Jesus. Don’t we get a really good feeling inside when we help someone, especially when we expect nothing in return? Doesn’t it just feel good?!
The Apostle Paul knew this feeling well. Listen to what he wrote in his 1st letter to the Corinthians, chapter 9, verses 18 and 19…
Paul saw the opportunity of being able to share the Good News of Jesus with others as his reward. For that reason, even though he was a free man, he made himself a servant to everyone, just for the chance of winning more souls for Jesus.
That’s why Jesus served, to show the people His love and bring them in to Himself, giving them the chance at eternal salvation. That’s why Paul so willingly served, even in the face of hardship and under the constant threat of death. And that is why we should serve, now, today and every day, all long as we draw breath: so that we might win more souls for Jesus.
Just as Isaiah described Jesus’ service, we should serve humbly, not crying out or speaking loudly so that all around can hear of our wonderful deeds. We should be gentle with those we help, not treating them like something less than ourselves or like we are helping them out of duty rather than out of love. We should seek justice and help spread the truth.
This is what God the Lord has spoken for us. He “who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it, Who gives breath to the people on it, and spirit to those who walk it.”
This is what the Lord God Almighty wills for us. Serve, rather than expect to be served. Serve in love, out of the abounding love our Father has for us, and in loving show the love of God to others. Serve others, and in doing so serve Christ. And we will receive rewards now, here on earth, and some beautiful tomorrow, when we go home to live with our beloved Father God.
Let all the world know that a Servant comes. Amen.
Let us pray… Father God, Your chosen people expected a conquering hero, but You sent our Messiah Jesus as Your Servant, to serve us with His healing touch and His offer of salvation. You tells us often in our Bible, Your holy word, of just how pleased You are with Jesus and the work He did and continues to do. Thank You, Father, for not only sending Him to see to our current needs, but more importantly to provide for our eternal souls. Thank You for Your wonderful, saving grace.
Hear us now, Father, as we lift up our most personal prayers to You, straight from our hearts, speaking through the voice of Your Holy Spirit, repenting of our disobedience, seeking Your forgiveness…
Lord Jesus, even though You could have commanded heaven’s mighty armies to carry out Your every desire, You lowered Yourself to be a servant to all mankind. You came to live among us knowing Your role and Your fate, knowing full well how it would all turn out. But still You came, because it was Your Father’s will that You do so. You gave of Yourself for us. You died that we might not suffered the second death of eternal damnation and torment. You gave Your all for us. Lord may we never forget Your selfless act. May we never take for granted how much You blessed us, how much You offer. May we always believe, stay faithful, and obey Your commands.
This we pray in Your glorious name, Christ Jesus, our Lord and Master, the one true Son of God, in whom we place all our hope, all our trust, all our faith. Amen.
11 "[But] he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
--Matthew 23:11-12 (NKJV)
35 And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”
--Mark 9:35 (NKJV)
God called Jesus His Servant. Jesus said He came to serve, not to be served. Do you think that maybe God wants us to follow the same example? If we claim to be followers of Jesus, if we call Him Lord and really mean it, shouldn’t we also serve God by serving others, just as Jesus did?
In the Gospel according to the Apostle John, chapter 12 verse 26, Jesus makes a promise…
26 "If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor."
--John 12:26 (NKJV)
What is the promise I spoke of? If we accept the job of servant and serve those like Christ Jesus served, and if in doing so we also serve Him, then His Father will honor us. Our heavenly Father God will honor us.
Of course, we must be careful to serve only Jesus, for in the Gospel account of Luke, chapter 16 verse 13, our Lord warns…
13 “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”
--Luke 16:13 (NKJV)
The Apostle Paul knew this feeling well. Listen to what he wrote in his 1st letter to the Corinthians, chapter 9, verses 18 and 19…
18 What is my reward then? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel.
19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more.
--1 Corinthians 9:18-19 (NKJV)
That’s why Jesus served, to show the people His love and bring them in to Himself, giving them the chance at eternal salvation. That’s why Paul so willingly served, even in the face of hardship and under the constant threat of death. And that is why we should serve, now, today and every day, all long as we draw breath: so that we might win more souls for Jesus.
Just as Isaiah described Jesus’ service, we should serve humbly, not crying out or speaking loudly so that all around can hear of our wonderful deeds. We should be gentle with those we help, not treating them like something less than ourselves or like we are helping them out of duty rather than out of love. We should seek justice and help spread the truth.
This is what God the Lord has spoken for us. He “who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it, Who gives breath to the people on it, and spirit to those who walk it.”
This is what the Lord God Almighty wills for us. Serve, rather than expect to be served. Serve in love, out of the abounding love our Father has for us, and in loving show the love of God to others. Serve others, and in doing so serve Christ. And we will receive rewards now, here on earth, and some beautiful tomorrow, when we go home to live with our beloved Father God.
Let all the world know that a Servant comes. Amen.
Let us pray… Father God, Your chosen people expected a conquering hero, but You sent our Messiah Jesus as Your Servant, to serve us with His healing touch and His offer of salvation. You tells us often in our Bible, Your holy word, of just how pleased You are with Jesus and the work He did and continues to do. Thank You, Father, for not only sending Him to see to our current needs, but more importantly to provide for our eternal souls. Thank You for Your wonderful, saving grace.
Hear us now, Father, as we lift up our most personal prayers to You, straight from our hearts, speaking through the voice of Your Holy Spirit, repenting of our disobedience, seeking Your forgiveness…
Lord Jesus, even though You could have commanded heaven’s mighty armies to carry out Your every desire, You lowered Yourself to be a servant to all mankind. You came to live among us knowing Your role and Your fate, knowing full well how it would all turn out. But still You came, because it was Your Father’s will that You do so. You gave of Yourself for us. You died that we might not suffered the second death of eternal damnation and torment. You gave Your all for us. Lord may we never forget Your selfless act. May we never take for granted how much You blessed us, how much You offer. May we always believe, stay faithful, and obey Your commands.
This we pray in Your glorious name, Christ Jesus, our Lord and Master, the one true Son of God, in whom we place all our hope, all our trust, all our faith. Amen.
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