The Promised Servant
Isaiah 42:1-4 (ESV)
42 Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.2He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; 3a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice.4He will not grow faint or be discouraged[a] till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law.
Matthew 12:15-21 (ESV)
15Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all16and ordered them not to make him known.17This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah:
18“Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.19He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;20a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory;21and in his name the Gentiles will hope.”
Introduction: (Elf Movie) Have you heard about the “Code of the Elves”? One of the rules is that “the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.” That is one way to adopt an enthusiastic approach to life. The truth is that it depends on what type of song you are singing. Many of the songs we hear today at Christmas are cheerful but shallow.
● “Santa Baby” makes Christmas about greed.
● “All I Want for Christmas Is You” makes it about romance.
● “Jingle Bells”—fun as it is—has nothing to do with the incarnation.
The true Christmas song is the song of Scripture, and one
example is the Servant Song. Isaiah 42 sings of God’s Servant, and Matthew 12 declares: “This is that.” Jesus Christ is the Servant who fulfills the promise.
Preliminary observations: Notice the prophetic pattern in our advent series: Problem, Promise, Person.
1. Problem: Sin. Genesis 3 showed us humanity’s fall. It reminds us of total depravity (sin corrupts every part of us).
Our text exposes the depths of darkness that reside within the human heart, “But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him” (Matthew 12:14).
2. Promise: (which is prophetic) God promised a Seed who would crush the serpent. Now, God promised a servant “who will faithfully bring forth justice” (Isaiah 42:1b).
3. Person: Fulfillment in Christ. The promises are embodied in the Servant Himself. Matthew cites Isaiah to show that Jesus is the Servant. Servanthood is the heart of His mission.
Throughout Scripture, some of the most pivotal figures in redemptive history are given the title “servant of God.”
- Abraham is remembered this way when the Lord speaks to Isaac: “Fear not, for I am with you and will bless you… for the sake of Abraham my servant” (Genesis 26:24).
- The covenant line continues with Isaac and Jacob, who are together addressed as God’s servants in Moses’ intercession: “Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants” (Exodus 32:13).
- Moses himself is honored with this designation at the end of his life: “So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab” (Deuteronomy 34:5).
- David, Israel’s shepherd-king, is addressed in the same way: “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD…’” (2 Samuel 7:5).
- The prophets share this identity as well, with Isaiah explicitly called “my servant” (Isaiah 20:3).
- Israel as a whole repeatedly named God’s servant: “But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen…” (Isaiah
41:8).
- Jesus the servant par excellence – (Philippians 2:7) He “emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant.” Christmas is the Servant’s advent. God stooping low to speak his words, strengthen the weak, and seek and save wandering sinners.
So, what is the servant’s identity according to Isaiah and Matthew? - He is appointed by the Father (Chosen, consecrated and commissioned) - He is anointed by the Spirit
- Why? To accomplish salvation as the Servant-Son
What does the servant do? One can imagine the people waiting for the coming of this Servant with the hope of the Narnians waiting for Aslan:
All will be made right, when Aslan comes in sight,
At the sound of his roar, sorrows will be no more.
[C. S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Collins, 1968), 77.]
In Jesus’ coming (the servant of the Lord), justice begins to “roll down like waters” (Amos 5:24), the earth is slowly being “filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD” (Habakkuk 2:14), and soon the whole world will be flooded with hope (Douglas Sean O’Donnell, Preaching the Word, 324).
I. The Servant of the Lord speaks (Matthew 12:18-19)
“He will proclaim justice to the Gentiles” – As someone appointed by the Father and anointed by the Spirit, he will announce God’s justice. - Servant’s proclamation (the language use means to herald or announce) of justice: Matthew 12:18–20 presents Jesus as the chosen Servant whose ministry centers on proclaiming justice to all nations, not limited to Israel but extending universally.
- Nature of justice: This justice is eschatological,
restorative as well as retributive, ending
condemnation, reconciling sinners to God, and
satisfying the Father’s righteous demand through
Christ’s obedience and sacrifice.
- Priority of preaching and teaching: The Servant’s ministry advances primarily through proclamation of the Word, announcing the
Kingdom’s arrival and instructing His people in righteousness, and shaping a rightly ordered community of kingdom citizens.
- Practical relevance: In a world yearning for true justice amid pervasive injustice, Jesus’ proclamation assures that God’s justice will prevail, offering care and restoration for the bruised, battered, and broken‑hearted.
II. The Servant of the Lord saves and strengthens (Matthew 12:20-21) He will accomplish his mission not by scolding people with the Gospel, startling them, shouting them down, or by drawing attention to himself. A. Bruised reeds, He lifts not breaks. We are the bruised reeds: fragile, bent, seemingly useless because of sin. Yet Christ the Servant does not discard us. He lifts us by grace.
- But here is the deeper gospel: Christ Himself was broken on the cross so that we might be made whole. He was pierced for our
transgressions, crushed for our iniquities (Isaiah 53:5). The Servant bore our bruises so He could heal ours.
- Servanthood principle: True servants restore the weak, even at cost to themselves.
B. Smoldering wicks, He fans to flame. We are the smoldering wicks: our faith flickers, our devotion is weak, our witness dim. Yet Christ does not snuff us out. He breathes life into us.
- But here is the deeper gospel: His own life was snuffed out at Calvary. The Light of the World was extinguished in death so that our lamps might burn with new life. His resurrection rekindles our flame.
- Servanthood principle: True servants give of themselves so that others may shine.
C. Justice, He brings to victory. Christ the Servant perseveres
until His mission is complete. He will not rest until justice,
God’s covenant righteousness, is victorious.
- And here is the deeper gospel: His victory was won
through apparent defeat. On the cross, the Servant was judged in our place, so that we might be justified. His brokenness became our wholeness. His extinguished life became our eternal life.
- Servanthood principle: True servants persevere in their calling.
Richard Sibbes was a Puritan pastor who wrote a whole book called “The Bruised Reed.” The book is based on Isaiah 42:3, the Servant Song that Matthew quotes here about Jesus. In the book, he talks about Jesus’ compassion and care for the hurting. He writes: “Are you bruised? Be of good comfort, he calls you. Conceal not your wounds, open all before him and… go to Christ. There is more mercy in him than sin in you.”
Jesus is gentle and humble in heart. He is the gentle servant, and he calls us to be gentle servants, too, gentle and humble with each other.
Conclusion:
1. The servant motif is not merely descriptive but deeply theological. It binds together the story of God’s people, showing continuity across generations and pointing forward to Christ. And it reminds the church today that we stand in that same line of solidarity: servants of the same Lord, called to embody covenant faithfulness and mission in our own time.
2. The world sings shallow songs, but the church sings the Servant’s song. Christmas cheer is not about jingles; it is about Jesus.
3. Matthew 12 declares: This is that. The prophecy is fulfilled. The Servant has come. And so our cantata, our worship, and our lives must proclaim: - Bruised reeds He lifts, not breaks, because He was broken to make us whole. “Are you bruised?”
- Smoldering wicks He fans to flame, because His life was snuffed out to give us new life. Is your life lacking its vitality?
- Justice, He brings to victory, because His cross secured
our justification and His resurrection guarantees our
hope. Are you feeling hopeless?
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
(Matthew 11:28-30)
This is Christmas. Christmas is not only about receiving the Servant. It is about becoming servants in His name. This is Christ. This is the Servant. We are Christ’s servants. Let us speak about Him. Let us sing about Him. Let us serve Him, His people, and the lost ones. SDG!