Daily Apologetics 101 Made Easy... Question: If Jesus is a servant of GOD, do this mean He is not GOD? Noted from the writings of our Fore Fathers the Didache Chapter 9... Some SECT is using this as basis for the so called (Oldest Bible that was found in Palestine) First, concerning the cup: We thank you, our Father, for the holy vine of David Your servant, which You made known to us through Jesus Your Servant; to You be the glory for ever. Answer: The idea that Christ is a suffering servant does not contradict the other passages wherein it is demonstrated that he is divine and in which he claims, by his actions and by his words, all the attributes which belong only to God, to belong to himself. Philippians 2:5-7 5 Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; Isaiah 42 portrays the Lord’s “Suffering Servant,” who will bring justice not only to the people of Israel, but to the Gentiles as well. Isaiah contains four so-called “servant songs” (42:1-7; 49:1-13; 50:4-9; 52:13–53:12) which describe this heroic figure. This first song explains the calling of the Suffering Servant: He serves the Lord. He is upheld by the Lord. He delights the Lord. And the spirit of the Lord is upon him—just like the spirit of the Lord came upon the judges and kings of old. The Lord has appointed the Suffering Servant to fulfill a mission—bringing justice to the Gentiles (nations). The Gospel of Matthew twice points us to how Jesus fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah 42. Matthew 12:18-20 actually quotes Isaiah 42:1-3 to explain why Jesus kept his messianic role somewhat secret during his ministry: he would not cry aloud in the streets. In Matthew 3:13-17 points to this passage. Jesus insists on John the Baptist baptizing him “in order to fulfill all righteousness” – an allusion perhaps to the justice-bringing mission of the Suffering Servant. Also, when God the Father speaks from the heavens at Jesus’ baptism, he quotes Isaiah 42:1, calling Jesus the one “with whom I am well pleased.” The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows that Jesus is fulfilling the Suffering Servant prophecies of Isaiah. The Messianic king whom God appoints to bring justice to the Gentiles is Jesus himself. He is a new kind of king who comes to vanquish the power of sin and establish God’s righteous law in our hearts. Jesus will also open the eyes of the blind and free prisoners from the dark confinement of sin. Indeed he will even be “a covenant of the people” (Isa 42:6). Normally covenants are not thought of as people, but Jesus embodies the New Covenant as priest, king, and sacrificial victim. He will perfectly fulfill man’s covenantal responsibility to God. care2/news/member/851260545/1421106
Posted on: Thu, 13 Mar 2014 07:32:11 +0000
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