“Gawkers, Deserters, and Other Types of Believers”
Series Introduction
Leading into what all Christians view as Holy Week, on Sunday, we begin the celebration of those events which define the core of the Christian faith and we tell the foundational story of our salvation through Jesus Christ (also known as the Gospel or Good News).
Today, as an introduction for a series of Holy Week meditations, I offer one of the Messianic prophecies from Isaiah (see Isaiah 42:1-9 below) that tells of a servant to come. This series will examine Jesus’ last week as it is recorded in the Gospel of John and focuses on various elements of faith and responses of the faithful the story portrays. “Gawkers, Deserters, and Other Types of Believers” examines not only the characters and events in the story it also offers ways in which we too can respond faithfully to our Savior. This series (other than the introduction) will not be published on my website or posted on social media. I invite you to sign up for daily e-mails by clicking on the sign-up button above.
Peace be with you.
Isaiah 42:1-9
The Servant, a Light to the Nations
42 Here is 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.
2 He will not cry or lift up his voice,
or make it heard in the street;
3 a bruised reed he will not break,
and a dimly burning wick he will not quench;
he will faithfully bring forth justice.
4 He will not grow faint or be crushed
until he has established justice in the earth;
and the coastlands wait for his teaching.
5 Thus says God, the Lord,
who created the heavens and stretched them out,
who spread out the earth and what comes from it,
who gives breath to the people upon it
and spirit to those who walk in it:
6 I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness,
I have taken you by the hand and kept you;
I have given you as a covenant to the people,
a light to the nations,
7 to open the eyes that are blind,
to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,
from the prison those who sit in darkness.
8 I am the Lord, that is my name;
my glory I give to no other,
nor my praise to idols.
9 See, the former things have come to pass,
and new things I now declare;
before they spring forth,
I tell you of them.