As we enter the last week of advent, our focus of meditation turns to love. Not just the kind of love movies are made for and little girls dream about. The last week of advent is about the kind of sacrificial love that would cause a God to enter the human realm with the sole purpose of giving His life up in the most torturous way possible so that humans could live eternally.
Why would God do such an act of love?
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.
He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice.
He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law.
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 on it and spirit to those who walk in it:
“I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.
I am the LORD; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.
Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.” -Isaiah 42:1-9
This is the first of four servant songs fulfilled in Jesus Christ. In it, God describes the servant who is to come, the promised Messiah. The love displayed by the Servant (Jesus) is one of action. When we think of love, or see it depicted in books, movies, or TV, it’s portrayed as a feeling. The love of the world is all about how something or someone makes you feel. But that’s not true love, not Godly love. Godly love looks out for the well-being of others. And that’s what Jesus is promised to do in this passage.
Jesus shows love to the nations as He brings justice to them. This messiah has not only come for Israel, but for all nations, just as God promised to Abraham. Jesus is gentle and lowly (vv. 2-3, also Matthew 11:29). He will tirelessly establish His justice over all the earth.
God says the Servant will be a covenant for the people. He will represent the people before God. He is a light for the nations, illuminating the truth of the gospel for all to see. He will heal the blind and free the captives, all as the manifestation of the love of God.
“In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.” – 1 John 4:9
Family Discussion
What are some ways that you can show love to others?
What are some ways that you know Jesus loves you?
