Dear Readers and Listeners, Friends in Jesus Christ,
The watchword for today is taken from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, Chapter 42, verses 6 and 7, “I am the Lord, I have called you to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness,” (NRSVB). The prophet Isaiah foretells in his prophecies from Chapter 42 onward, about the coming of God’s Servant, “He will not cry or shout; a bruised reed He will not break and a dimly burning wick He will not quench.” When Jesus taught in public, in and around Jerusalem, he healed those who were sick and shone the light of God’s truth in the lives of the people who were marginalized. When he taught he instructed the people gently and told them not to publicly announce him, for it was not yet the time for him to be exalted. As it was foretold by the prophet, the Servant of God was gentle in his teaching and working with the people, as we can read in Matthew 12. However, Jesus’ understanding of his mission on earth was the work of the Suffering Servant. In these prophecies of Isaiah, also referred to as the Servant’s Songs, we are told of the way that the Messiah will work with those who are trapped in the darkness of spiritual and religious doubt. This darkness is so stifling; it is as if one is locked up in an invisible prison, filled with fear and anxiety. Jesus came to open the understanding of scripture and to reveal himself as the Servant of the Lord, as he was foretold of by the prophets. Isaiah spoke of the “new things” declared by God, “the former things have passed away.” From all the ends of the earth all will come to sing new songs to the Lord, these will be songs never before heard in the world. These songs will be sung to the Servant of the Lord who is the Light of the Nations, the One who came to seek the lost.
The work of the Servant of the Lord is manifested with his deeds of serving and healing that he performed to those he saw along the paths that he travelled. He stopped to heal beggars, he allowed those who were condemned to be outside of the temple, to come close to him and they were touched by his healing hands and redeeming words. In these times of self-isolation during the pandemic, we have more of an understanding what ceremonially unclean means, it means that one cannot be among people for a period of time, because of having been in contact with situations or people who were seen as being not fit to come into the temple, due to disease or situations. Jesus suffered this isolation too, and would engage with people and then had to follow the rules of the temple, in observing the laws demanded of him. Jesus was filled “with zeal for God’s house” and chased the traders out of the temple, for it was not in keeping with the understanding of God’s House as a sacred and holy dwelling. Jesus’ understanding of his mission on earth was to preach God’s word to the poor, the outsiders and those who could not enter the temple due to their situations, before he would ultimately die in fulfilling his work. He went to find the people on the fringes, as we read in Mark 10 verse 49, “Jesus stood still and said, “Call him here.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart; get up, He is calling you.” People ignored this blind man, he was one of many blind beggars along the road, but Jesus heard his call! Jesus instructed those who were with him to bring the man to him, and instantly the people who followed Jesus knew that Jesus would change his life, and would give him sight! Jesus does not disappoint those who call desperately to him. He is gentle and restores the broken in body and spirit. Jesus demands of his followers to call people to come to him to be healed and given sight to find their way in this dark world back to their heavenly Father.
Father, we thank you for your Son, the Serving and Suffering Servant and Saviour, Amen.