Behold My Servant

Rev. A.H. Verhoef St. Catharines, ON

In this prophecy of Isaiah, God the Father is speaking. It is the testimony of the Holy One of Israel, the God who cannot lie: “Behold My Servant.”

Take solemn note, says the Lord, I am about to reveal great and marvelous things; I am going to proclaim a wondrous message: “Behold!” In the verse ending the previous chapter it is also: “Behold!” but that refers to idols which do not hear and do not speak; the idols are false gods. “Behold, they are all vanity; their works are nothing: their molten images are wind and confusion.”

However, now God the Father sounds forth another: “Behold”—“Behold My Servant.” From Matthew 12 it is evident that this Servant is none other than Christ. The Pharisees “held a council against Him, how they might destroy Him.” “But,” writes the evangelist, “when Jesus knew it, He withdrew Himself from thence.” His great suffering was drawing near, but His time had not yet come. Here was fulfillment of the prophecy: “Behold My Servant.”

Why would the Father call His beloved and only begotten Son with the Name: “My Servant”? Sovereign, merciful, and wise are those reasons.

We were created good and upright, we were adorned with Gods image, we were given labor in Paradise, and we were to be the Lord’s servants in fearing, loving, and obeying Him. And was it not our delight? Did we not enjoy God’s communion? Did we not experience His blessed presence, hearing the voice of the Lord God, walking in the garden in the cool of the day? But, alas! Dreadful was our fall, and wicked was our sin. The willing servant became an obstinate rebel. Joyful obedience to that good God changed into disobedience, fretting, blaming, hatred, and enmity. We ruined ourselves; we lost God’s image, and we became bondservants to the devil, that murderer and liar from the beginning. We ended up bound in iron and in woe, dead, and serving Satan unto death.

Has this been discovered unto us? Has the Holy Spirit convicted and convinced you? Have you become the guilty one in this? Have you learned to grieve on account of this? Then there is sighing by reason of the bondage. Then there is crying by reason of the bondage. Such a sinner groans that he is a rebel who has dared to show proud contempt to God Most High.

But what is now so wondrous? What is such a miracle of mercy? The Holy Spirit not only quickens such a dead and stony heart but inclines it, winning it over for the service of God. Divine love is shed abroad in that heart, and then the outgoings of the soul seek unto the Lord. Yearning for communion with God is found within, and it escapes the bosom in prayer to the Most High. Then the soul wants to make right everything that he has done wrong. Then that guilty and ashamed sinner desires to work his way back to God. The Lord is so worthy; of that he is convinced. The debt, the disobedience, the rebellion are all his. Wholeheartedly he owns his trespass, and he does not hide his sins. Such a quickened sinner does his utmost to break off his sins by righteousness and his iniquity by shewing mercy to the poor.

Do you know this in your life? Working seven shifts in a day? Nothing is too much. There is desire and delight in the things of the Lord. Is this not, in some measure, you think, working out my salvation with fear and trembling? From time to time there is opening in prayer, a hope raised up, a token for good, a crumb to taste, a little rest in God’s house, your case traced out.

But tell me now, are you advancing? Are you paying off your debts? Is the breach any smaller? Is your guilt cleared?

Ah, sooner or later such a remnant shall find that they cannot be saved by the works of the law, that their own works come to naught, that their ships are broken, that their righteousnesses are as filthy rags. They end up poorer and more miserable than before, naked and needy, hopeless and helpless. They have no strength left. The old people of God used to say that you must work yourself to death. But, oh, as long as I have an ounce of strength in me, I shall work and work.

In these ways, when everything is broken down and all becomes a disappointment, they learn something else, and it is a grievous lesson. The Holy Spirit uncovers to them how rebellious they remain, how much murmuring they do, how they roar in enmity against God and His leadings, how slothful and careless they become. They end up as an ungodly, wicked transgressor from the womb.

“Behold!” Oh sinner, who has been brought to an end! “Behold!” is now the testimony of God the Father. “Behold My Servant!” Who can fathom the depth of this word? The eternal and very Son of God became a Servant, the Servant of His Holy Father. He thought it not robbery to be equal with God, for He was in the form of God. But what does the apostle write? Christ Jesus “made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a Servant, and was made in the likeness of men.” “Behold My Servant!”

That blessed Servant humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Willingly and voluntarily He suffered, He bled, He gave His life for a ransom. He took the penalty for disobedient rebels in His passive obedience and bowed under that burden of guilt, yes, the burden of God’s righteous wrath against sin. “Behold My Servant!”

He was made of a woman, made under the law. He fulfilled all righteousness. In His active obedience every one of His Father’s commandments was kept by Him. He did no violence, neither was any deceit in His mouth. “Behold My Servant!”

When Pilate brought Him forth, wearing a crown of thorns and the purple robe, he said, “Behold the Man!” Later, in Gabbatha, the Roman governor said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” However, that was mockery, that was reproach, that was reviling and scorn, that was utter contempt for the suffering Savior.

But, poor and perishing sinner, undone wretch, when God the Father speaks, it is with the tender love this Holy Father has for His Son so dear. “Behold My Son!” The Father delights in Him and is pleased with Him and with His labor. Isaiah later records, “Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He hath put Him to grief.” This is God’s way, this is God’s work, this is God’s Servant. Therefore, sinner, you cannot and never shall accomplish the work of your salvation. Instead, “Behold My Servant!” Your solution lies in Him. Hearken to His own Word which He spoke to His Father, “I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do.”

“Behold My Servant”—I give unto Him a reward upon His labor, for His work is perfect. I have seen the travail of His soul, and I am satisfied. This Laborer, My Servant, is worthy of His reward. By His humility, by His suffering, and by His service are riches, honor, and life. He is now exalted most gloriously and those poor, loathsome, perishing sighers receive riches, glory, and life from Him. “By His knowledge shall My righteous Servant justify many.” By His strength and grace they begin to serve God truly and fear His majesty. They are granted a small beginning of that new obedience here below. And hereafter? “His servants shall serve Him: and they shall see His face; and His Name shall be in their foreheads.” What shall that be!

Young and old, may we hear and hearken unto this testimony, for the first time or by renewal: “Behold My Servant!”

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