Isaiah

A Gospel For All

Matt Otto D-Groups , , , ,

Have you ever felt like you were special, part of a select few, and likely an essential piece to a significant project or plan? Maybe you were the first person picked for a playground game. Maybe you were given the impression that the selection process used to identify you was extensive. Maybe your employer has tasked you to oversee an important venture. Regardless of the circumstances, each of these scenarios give us the sense that we are distinct, extraordinary, or favored. It would surely bruise our ego if we found out that we are quite ordinary, one of many, and that success would have little to do with our talents or abilities – our choosing had little to do with any qualifications.

This was the hard truth Israel needed to come to grips with. In the Old Testament, Moses reminded Israel that they were special: “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth” (Deut 7:6). No doubt, Moses’ description would cause even the most downcast Israelite to puff out his chest with pride, pat his fellow Israelites on their backs, and say, “Wow! Did you hear that?! We are chosen, set apart, and treasured! Apparently, God has recognized our skill, strength, and spiritual potential.”

However, Moses continues in verses 7-8:

It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery …

Clearly, God’s selection has little to do with Israel’s religious credentials and all to do with God’s glorious character. It is His steadfast love and His faithful promise that ultimately aims to give them purpose and change their destiny. Unfortunately, over the course of Israel’s history, God’s chosen people lost sight of their inadequacy and continued need, and rejected the One sent for their redemption.

So, as Jesus launches His earthly ministry in Galilee, specifically, in His hometown of Nazareth and its synagogue, the Messiah confronts Israel’s religious leadership with their failing and with their need (Lk 4:14-30). As He receives the scroll of Isaiah, reads from it (Is 61:1-2), and returns it to the attendant, all eyes are on Him. Those present are riveted, awaiting the rabbi’s insight, and after sitting down, He states that “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing” (v. 21). Their surprise in hearing these words from the carpenter’s son quickly turned to anger, as Jesus refused to give them miraculous validation of His claim. He knew that no amount of miracles would satisfy them, because their reaction was simply a sign of their unbelief. Their response was indicative of their need for the Messiah as described in Isaiah’s words. Despite all of their God-given advantages – holiness, choice, value, love, and faithfulness – Israel was still in need of a redeemer.

The prophetic text that Jesus shares (Lk 4:17-19) contains three proclamations, each heralding good news delivered by the arrival of the Messiah. The announcement proclaims (1) that the bankrupt will become rich, (2) the captive will be set free, and (3) the debts will be settled. In other words, Jesus has come for those lost, broken, and needy. He has come for all people, Israel and Gentiles, alike (Is 42:6-7). However, based on their self-righteousness and sense of importance, Israel and its spiritual leaders’ crashed headlong into Jesus’ message. They considered their good works sufficient, while God found them to fall woefully short of His perfect standard. Despite their desperate distress they rejected the all-sufficient Savior.

We are no different! We often compare ourselves to others, evaluate our “goodness” on a sliding scale, and consider God impressed by our spiritual status. It is easy to forget that without the Savior and the Good News that He provides, we are spiritually poor, captives to our sinful desires, blind to God’s love, and oppressed by a debt that we are incapable of paying. Yet, Jesus came to save the lost (Lk 19:10)! God loved us before we loved Him (1 Jn 4:19) and chose us to be His own without being qualified or lovely. What a gracious and merciful God!

Isaiah 42:6-7 (NIV) – “‘I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.’”

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The Fatherly King, Forever

Matt Otto D-Groups , , , ,

Dads can create quite a stir on the elementary school playground. Claims of “my dad can beat up your dad” and “my dad is smarter than your dad” swirl among the littles as they banter back and forth, taking pride in their dad, who – in their mind is bigger than life.

Similarly, the title, Everlasting Father, has created quite a bit of discussion around the theological watercooler. Isaiah uses it to describe the long-promised and long-awaited Messiah. Some interpret the title describing Jesus’ divine nature and eternal relationship to His creation (Jn 1:1-5; Col 1:16-17). Jesus is the “Father of Eternity”, who is beyond creation, over creation, as well as near creation. While this is certainly true, Isaiah likely had a much simpler and more intimate understanding in mind. “Jesus opens the way to God’s fatherly heart”[1] and functions like the neverending fatherly King. He is the “Forever Father” behaving like the perfect father. He is present, faithful, devoted, kind, gentle and so on.

The gospels demonstrate this dynamic by consistently showing Jesus’ kingly goodness in action as He provides and protects during His earthly ministry. He loves the unlovable, heals the sick, and forgives the guilt ridden. Moreover, in the Gospel of John, Jesus explains that He provides and protects like a good shepherd does his sheep (Jn 10:1-18). Jesus, the Good Shepherd leads (v. 4), enriches (v. 10), and welcomes (v. 16). All the while His everlasting fatherly heart is evident – active, reliable, generous, caring, and tender.

I give [my sheep] eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one (John 10:28-30)

We are secure in our neverending fatherly King’s hands. According to Charles H. Spurgeon, “There is no unfathering Christ, and there is no unchilding us. He is a father to those who trust Him.”

John 1:1-5 (ESV) – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

[1] Herman Bavinck, Reformed Dogmatics, vol. 4, Holy Spirit, Church, and New Creation (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2008), 204-205

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The All-Powerful Valiant King

Matt Otto D-Groups , , , , ,

In days of yore kings and leaders were frequently given impressive names in connection to their character or accomplishments. For example, Richard I of England is commonly referred to as Richard “the Lionheart” because of his courage and cruelty. President Abraham Lincoln was sometimes called “The Ancient One” because of his sage wisdom. More recently, Margaret Thatcher, who served as Britain’s Prime Minister from 1979-1990, was known as the “Iron Lady” for her resolute politics and leadership style.

Similarly, in biblical times, ancient kings were described by names like those listed in Isaiah 9:6. The prophet wrote to warn Judah of God’s impending judgment as well as His promised salvation through an anointed king or messiah. Based on the descriptive terms listed in Isaiah 9:6, expectations looked forward to a king with extraordinary wisdom, great strength, and peaceful influence. This king would set all things straight upon his arrival, crushing enemies in the process. He would do this, because he would be chosen and empowered by God’s zeal (v. 7). So God’s people anticipated a king like Saul, imposing in stature, a king like David, mighty in battle, or a king like Solomon, amazingly wise. A political leader whose glory and might would eclipse even the most revered kings of Israel’s history. As one song writer put it, they thought he would “come with a crown of gold, a string of pearls, and a cashmere robe … [that he would] clinch an iron fist, and rain like fire on the politics.”[1] The title, Mighty God, only bolstered these expectations. The name brings to mind one deserving of great honor and fame as well as one exhibiting power in authority and leadership.

How unbelievable it must have been for the long-awaited king to be born in such a low estate. To think that the King who made all things, owns all things, sustains all things, and reflects the complete radiance of God’s glory (Heb 1:1-4), nevertheless took on the human journey as a vulnerable and dependent baby is astonishing (Isaiah 7:14)! Speaking of the incarnation of Jesus, Charles H. Spurgeon beautifully describes the union of the divine and the human, the extraordinary and the common:

They never cease to tell the astonishing story, and to tell it with increasing astonishment too, that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was born of the Virgin Mary, and became a man.

Is He not rightly called Wonderful?

Infinite, and an infant. Eternal, and yet born of a woman. Almighty, and yet hanging on a woman’s breast. Supporting a universe, and yet needing to be carried in a mother’s arms. King of angels, and yet the reputed son of Joseph. Heir of all things, and yet the carpenter’s despised son.

Jesus is the Mighty God described in Isaiah 9:6. He is the Son of God and the Son of Man, fully divine and fully human. He is the Hero who was sent “to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (Isa 61:1-3). As God and man, King Jesus has the authority and capacity to reclaim sinners and pardon the condemned. Through His sinless life, sacrificial death, and bodily resurrection He satisfied the just demands of the Father, paid the debt that we owed and took the penalty we deserved (Col 2:13-15). He wins! Satan, sin, and death no longer have claim on those whose king is Jesus. Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Matthew 1:21-23 (ESV) – “‘[Mary] will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: ‘Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel’ (which means, God with us).”

[1] “Baby Son” by John Mark McMillan, 2018

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The Incomprehensibly Wise King

Matt Otto D-Groups , , , ,

“If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.”

It is a familiar idiom that encourages us to persevere in the face of failure. Often it reminds us that failure is not the end, and that we should not give up on our goals or aspirations, but rather to keep trying until we succeed. Yet, are there ever circumstances that prohibit success and make failure inevitable? Certainly! The truth is that there are certain things that we are incapable of doing. In particular, physically and intellectually we all have limitations that no repeated “trying” will overcome. This is even more profoundly true when it comes to our spiritual condition. We find ourselves walking in gloom and in deep darkness (Is 9:1-2; see also Is 59:9) deserving only of God’s judgment. Even more disturbing is that we cannot improve or remedy our condition no matter how hard we try. Is there any place we can turn to escape seemingly certain failure?

Yes! The answer is found in Isaiah 9. Here the prophet reminds us that our rescue comes from the God of the angel armies. It is His intense love, unstoppable devotion, and relentless commitment that ultimately accomplishes His redemptive purpose: “The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this” (Isaiah 9:7).

How is this possible? How does this extraordinary God engage with ordinary humans like you and me? In the well known and deeply loved Christmas carol, “What Child Is This?”, the writer, W. Chatterton Dix, beautifully answers this mystery by posing a rhetorical question of his own:

What child is this, who, laid to rest, on Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, while shepherds watch are keeping?

God enters our world as “King eternal” (the Son of God) and as “King birthed” (the Son of Man). He is worshiped by the armies of angels and adored by insignificant herdsmen. He is both extraordinary and ordinary; both completely unlike us and yet just like us. “In Him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily” (Col 2:9). What an incomprehensibly wise King! He is able to “sympathize with our weaknesses … tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Heb 4:15). In his sermon entitled “Vision of a Transcendent God”, Dr. D.A. Carson asks,

How do you describe a God who is purer than the driven snow, who is more magnificent than the most stunning sunset, who is more entrancing than a million twinkling stars, who is more nourishing than the best of foods, who is more loving than the ideal parent, who is more awesome than all of the unleashed forces of nature? How do you describe a God like that?

This is the amazing context of the familiar names that describe the character of King Jesus found in Isaiah 9:6. What we are unable and incapable of doing, Jesus does, beginning as our Wonderful Counselor – the incomprehensibly wise King. He is worth trusting, obeying, and confiding in.

Jeremiah 23:5-6 (ESV) – “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’”

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