The Royal Servant

Following his baptism in the Jordan, the voice from heaven identified Jesus as the Son of God and the Servant of Yahweh. The theme of fulfillment is prominent in Matthew’s gospel. In Jesus of Nazareth, the promises of God have found their prophesied fulfillments. He is the Son of God, the one who is destined to rule the nations of the Earth, albeit in unexpected and unprecedented ways.

Peter, for example, confirmed that Jesus was “the Messiah,” but he failed to understand how he would fulfill that role. Rather than a military conqueror who would overthrow Rome, Christ was the suffering “Servant of Yahweh.” He came “to give his life a ransom for many,” not to rule from Caesar’s throne. The identity and mission of the Nazarene are revealed in his self-sacrificial act for others.

[Photo by Jim Bonewald on Unsplash]

The ways by which Jesus attained his royal status are contrary to those of the rulers, emperors, presidents, and kings of the present age. Unlike Christ, Caesar never put aside the authority and privileges of his rank, and he certainly did not sacrifice his life to redeem and save his subjects.

In the book’s opening passage, the Gospel of Matthew identifies Jesus as “the son of David, the son of Abraham.” He is the descendant of David, destined to rule the nations of the Earth, and he is the heir and seed of Abraham, who inherits and implements the covenant promises.

• “By myself have I sworn, says Yahweh, because you have not withheld your son, your only son, that in blessing I will bless you, and in multiplying I will multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens, and as the sand upon the seashore. And your seed will possess the gate of his enemies; and in your seed all the nations of the earth will be blessed, because you obeyed my voice” – (Genesis 22:16-18).

• “Yet, I have set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. I will tell of the decree. Yahweh said to me: You are my son! This day, have I begotten you. Ask of me, and I will give the nations for your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession” – (Psalm 2:6-8).

Abraham was wealthy. David was a victorious warrior and king who reigned over a large and growing kingdom from his throne in Jerusalem. How could a poor man from an insignificant village in a remote region like Galilee accomplish all that God promised in the Hebrew Scriptures?

An angel informed Joseph that Mary was pregnant and commanded him to name the child Jesus, “for he will save his people from their sins.” That name meant “salvation of Yahweh,” indicating what God was about to do for His people.

The claim that Jesus will “save his people from their sin” echoes the description of the “Servant of Yahweh” from the Book of Isaiah. That image provides insight into just what kind of Messiah Jesus was and remains, to this day:

• “Behold, my servant will deal wisely, he will be exalted and lifted up, and 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? <…> He will see of the travail of his soul, and will be satisfied: by the knowledge of himself my righteous servant will justify many; and he will bear their iniquities <…> Because he poured out his soul unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors: yet he carried the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors” – (Isaiah 52:13m 53:10-12).

After he was baptized by John in the Jordan River, the Spirit descended on Jesus, and a heavenly voice called him “my Son.” God confirmed his identity. The Nazarene was the Messiah of Israel! However, the voice also defined how Jesus would fulfill that role – As the Servant of God:

• “And behold! The heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him. And behold! a voice out of the heavens, saying: This is my beloved Son! In him, I am well pleased” - (Matthew 3:16-17).

• “Behold, my servant whom I uphold; my chosen one in whom my soul delights. I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. <…> 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 nation” - (Isaiah 42:1, 6-7).

THE SUFFERING SERVANT

Jesus of Nazareth is the Son anointed by God’s Spirit. He is, therefore, the one appointed to rule the nations from Zion. However, he does so as “the Servant of Yahweh,” not as Caesar Augustus. Later in Matthew, the same passage from Isaiah is cited again to describe Christ’s ministry, only more fully:

• (Matthew 12:18-22) - “And perceiving it, Jesus withdrew from thence: 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 will he not break, And smoking flax will he not quench, till he sends forth judgment unto victory. And in his name will the nations hope.”

At the Transfiguration, the same heavenly voice spoke once more, again echoing Isaiah:

• “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 that prepared the disciples for this glorious event. First, Jesus asked them 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, Jesus began warning the disciples about his impending death at the hands of the “elders and chief priests and scribes.” Peter found the idea intolerable and “began to rebuke him.” His momentary revelation evaporated - (Matthew 16:21-23).

Thirdly, Jesus explained that if we desire to follow him, we must deny ourselves. We must also take up the cross and follow the same path as him. “Whoever will lose his life for my sake will find it.” He then declared that some of the disciples would “see the Son of man coming in his kingdom” before death. In the narrative, these words are followed by the Transfiguration - (Matthew 16:24-28).

Subsequently, the disciples asked Jesus why the Scribes claimed that “Elijah must come first.” He responded: Elijah had indeed come, alluding to John the Baptist. The Scribes and the priestly leaders “did whatever they would to John. Even so, the Son of Man also will suffer” - (Matthew 17:9-13).

Two themes become prominent in the story. First, the coming suffering and death of Jesus. Secondly, the Messiah summons his disciples to follow him by engaging in sacrificial service for others and his Kingdom.

Later, two of the disciples requested high positions “when you come into your kingdom.” This displeased the other disciples. However, Jesus used the opportunity to explain how greatness is measured in the Kingdom of God:

• (Matthew 20:25-28) – “But Jesus called them unto him, and said: You know that the rulers of the Gentiles dominate them, and their great ones tyrannize them. It must not be so among you. But whoever 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 Messiah pointed to his sufferings and death as the ultimate example of what it means “not to be served, but to serve.” In doing so, he echoed the description of the Servant of Yahweh from the Book of Isaiah:

• “Because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors. Yet he carried the sins of many and made intercession for the transgressors” – (Isaiah 53:12).

Christ’s death was the ransom price for the redemption of “the many.” Paul employed this same image when demonstrating how believers 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, telling them to drink its contents, “for this is my blood of the covenant.” Once more, he used language from Isaiah about the Servant:

• “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 nations” – (Isaiah 42:6, Matthew 26:26-28).

After his resurrection, Jesus received “All authority in heaven and on earth.” He had become King and began his reign over the Earth; therefore, he sent his disciples to proclaim the Good News to all nations.

Christ’s enthronement came only after paying a great price - his unjust death on the Roman cross. It is the suffering Servant of Yahweh who now sits on the Davidic Throne. The identity, mission, and reign of Jesus cannot be understood apart from the Cross. Moreover, his life and sacrificial death become the model for how we must live and reign with him in this sin-dominated world.

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SEE ALSO:

• The Savior of the World - (‘Jesus’ means ‘Yahweh saves,’ and in him, the salvation promised by the God of Israel for all men and every nation has arrived)

• Messiah and King - (The New Testament applies messianic and royal promises from the Psalms to Christ’s present reign. He alone is, present tense, Lord and Messiah!)

• The True Emperor - (Jesus, the Slain Lamb, is the Ruler of the Kings of the Earth, the King of Kings, who now reigns over all the nations of the Earth)

• Le Serviteur Royal - (Après son baptême dans le Jourdain, la voix du ciel a identifié Jésus comme le Fils de Dieu et le Serviteur de Yahvé)