1 Epiphany (B)

In the writings of the prophet Isaiah, there are four units known as “Servant Songs” which include elements of “the Suffering Servant.” In our OT reading today, we find the very first of the Servant Songs, where God is introducing his Servant. This Servant is unnamed: those who first heard Isaiah probably would have assumed that the servant is the Nation, Israel. These writings are basically poems describing this chosen servant. This servant of the Lord is chosen to do the work of the Lord, but he ends up being horribly abused. Ultimately, he ends up sacrificing himself, but good ultimately triumphs through tragedy.

In our Old Testament reading, God introduces his servant and describes his work in vs. 1-4, and in the following verses God seems to speak to his Servant, commissioning his work. And the main idea of this Servant Song is Justice. This is to be the aim and work of the Servant, to bring judgment to the world, proclaiming the sovereignty of God, to bring to truth of God to the world, and to establish a just order, to right the wrongs so very evident in the world. God is big on justice and the word justice appears 3 times in the first few verses.

Our text begins with God saying, “Behold my servant.” Here he is, the one that I uphold, the one who is kept for myself, the one in whom my soul delights. This servant is God’s servant. He’s God’s man for the job, and God’s own man. “I have put my Spirit, my presence on him, and he will bring Justice to the nations.” Justice here is God’s truth and the truth about God which will be revealed, brought forth, by this servant.

And the ultimate Servant will do ultimate service, serving the Lord through quiet strength, not aggressive, not threatening, but gentle and compassionate. He will not break a bruised reed, nor quench a dimly burning wick. One would think that a bruised reed is useless, and a smoldering wick is nearly extinct, but not in the eyes of God, not in the hands of the Servant. The servant won’t crush those who are weak, nor snuff out the vulnerable. He understands human weakens and vulnerability, and like a gentle physician seeks to heal our wounds. He will bring justice, making things right.

And he himself will not falter or be discouraged. Though others are weak and vulnerable, the Servant is not. Others falter and are discouraged, and the Servant is not. Others may be dimly burning wicks, but not the Servant. Others may be bruised, but he does not bruise. What might immobilize others won’t discourage this servant. He has the resources not to falter, and resilience against outward foes. He will be strong until justice is established over all the earth, and even the most remote places are waiting for his law, placing their hope in his teaching.

In this next section, God is confirming the task of his servant, and promises results. The emphasis of the Creator God is meant to comfort his people. God who created all things, who maintains the universe, won’t forget his people or his promise. God who created, stretched, spread, and gives is an active God, and his creation is dependent upon him. He gives breath and life to humankind, and holds the universe in place. All things owe their very being to Him; even the soil has no life except what he provides. Life itself is God’s gift.

And this Creator, the Lord God, cares and provides for the life he gives, and one of the ways he does this is by calling forth his Servant. The Servant is called in righteousness. And with this call comes God’s very presence, he accompanies the Servant, holding his hand, and he will keep him safe. The Servant will be a covenant to the people, reflecting God’s promises. The Servant will be the means by which people come into a covenant relationship with God. While the covenant was first with Noah and Abraham and then Israel, God’s intention is for all the world to be his covenant people, people of the promise, and the Servant will bring the world and its people to God. This Servant will be a light to the nations, the light of truth, the healing of blind eyes, the release from captivity, the transformation from darkness to light, creating a perfect people in a perfect world.

And God promises to bring this about because of his Name, his reputation. He alone is God, he alone possesses his Glory, he alone is worthy of praise. According to his promise, the former things have come to pass, and behold, God is doing a new thing. God declares that he is going to do something new through the ministry of the Servant.

Who is this Servant? Clearly he is a messianic figure, and of course we recognize him to be Jesus, the ultimate obedient servant of God. He is the one to bring Justice, to restore right order on the earth, and God’s spirit is on him as we heard in our Gospel. His accomplishments are not through dominance or oppression. And His coming is not just for the nation of Israel, but for the world. This Servant gives both sight and freedom and His ministry reveals the glory of God.

Again, the ministry of the Servant is above all to restore God’s right order in the world, bringing justice to the world. The cross of Christ is about much more than forgiveness of sins. “It is about dealing with the effects of sin in the world and about restoring God’s work in all levels of society.”[1] And of course the church as the body of Christ, the ministry of Christ in the world, has done that. Over the ages the church and its people have been responsible for establishing hospitals and schools throughout the world as part of restoring God’s order in the world. The church hasn’t been perfect, but it has done much good throughout the ages.

My question to you is what are you doing to bring justice to the world, to restore God’s order? What is St. Mark’s Episcopal Church doing to bring justice to the world? What is the purpose of the church? Is it to evangelize, to bring in new members? Or Is it all about love and fellowship? Sure, those are part of it, but I think the real purpose of the church is to be a servant of our community, to minister to those in need, and to bring justice to the ends of the earth, starting right here in West Frankfort. It’s been said that the church is the only organization that exists solely for the benefit of non-members.

In the Bible, and in our community, justice is about the widows, the fatherless, and the orphans. It’s about the poor, the hungry, and the needy. It’s about the stranger, the weak, and the oppressed. For some of us it may involve political activism, working to structure the laws of our society so that widows and orphans and fatherless and poor and needy and hungry and strangers and the weak and the oppressed are protected.

It’s about making sure that the handicapped are protected. It’s about changing the laws whereby a woman with children loses her welfare benefits if she works at McDonalds, after she’s been laid off from a good job and now she can’t make ends meet, let alone get ahead.

It’s about hungry children. I talked to a woman, a case worker the other day, and she told me about visiting a family who was really struggling. This family had received a food basket earlier in the day, but the case worker was there when the kids came home from school. And she told me how the youngest boy’s eyes lit up to discover a can of chicken noodle soup, how he was so excited, jumping up and down, exclaiming “That’s my favorite!” A can of chicken noodle soup—imagine that!

So what are you doing to bring justice to the world? What is St. Mark’s Episcopal Church doing to bring justice to the world? Amen.

[1] Oswalt, John N., The NIV Application Commentary: Isaiah. Zondervan, p. 474.