In his letter to the church at Philippi Paul characterizes the mind of Christ as not, “regard[ing] equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant.” Later Paul writes that Christ, “humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Because of His humility and obedience God, “highly exalted Him…so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow,” (Phil. 2:6-10). This passage serves as a wonderful summation of the mind of Christ as prophesied about in the servant songs of the Book of Isaiah. These four poems illustrate the vision that Christ bore and the character he demonstrated in His death.
The first servant poem is found in Isaiah 42:1-4. This passage illustrates the mind of Christ as royal and noble, steadfast in His resolved to do the work He was sent to do. It presents Jesus’ ministry from the perspective of his baptismal inauguration picturing Christ in a royal anointing ceremony. His authority and regality is a crucial element in the mind of Christ and His ministry. It is solely because of his nobility that Christ remained steadfast in His task, boldly enduring whereas other would have faltered. His faithfulness sustains Him both in His first and second advent.
The second poem of Isaiah 49:1-6 is written from the opposite perspective of chapter 42 as Christ’s ministry is being looked back upon. Jesus’ character is likened to two sharp weapons demonstrating His eternal vision and purpose. This poem depicts the mind of Christ as completely focused on the future glorification to come when He will be honored before the nations. Verse 3 illustrates YHWH’s desire to display His own glory through the Messiah and intends to reward Him for His faithful service. This passage demonstrates that the mind of Christ is focused on the eternal Kingdom and God’s everlasting purposes beyond the temporal trials and tribulations He will endure. This theme is laced throughout the prophetic writings as the prophets’ actions are often dictated by their eschatological vision and conviction. Christ is the ultimate exemplum of the Servant of God focused on the eternal purposes of God.
Along these lines the third servant poem (Isaiah 50:4-9) pictures the mind of Christ as always in accordance with the will of the Father. There is a gentle pastoral element associate with the Messiah’s actions always relating His will back to the Word of the Father. Verses 5 and 6 implicitly juxtapose Christ’s faithful obedience to God with Israel’s incessant rebellion against God. The glory and honor that is due the Messiah results from His perfect obedience and submission to God the Father. Because YHWH has declared His purposes to Him, Christ “sets [His] face like flint,” to the divine mission. Jesus is steadfast in His resolve seeing the suffering that He will endure as a requisite for the future glorification He will enjoy. This humility is exactly the picture the apostle Paul employs in Philippians 2 demonstrating to believers that it is our duty to commit ourselves to the purposes and will of God.
The final servant poem of Isaiah 52-53 detail the character that Christ embodies throughout the great suffering He endures. His suffering is viewed as not only penal but substitutionary for the sins of mankind. Verse 7 of chapter 53 demonstrates His willingness to die and endure judgment despite His perfection and innocence. Christ is humble in His obedience and compassionate in suffering for mankind. Ultimately, the mind of Christ is focused on the great victory that His suffering accomplishes, a theme interlaced throughout the four poems. Verse 10 declares that YHWH was pleased with His Son who justifies the many. In verse 12 the Father exalts Christ because of His obedience fulfilling the promise and eschatological vision of the earlier servant poems.
Ultimately, the four servant poems of the Book of Isaiah demonstrate overall that the mind of Christ was, is, and forever will be concerned with the will of the Father. Though loving and compassionate to man, Jesus’ primary purpose throughout eternity is always the will of the Father. Christ is high and exalted because He willingly and obediently humbles Himself. It is not that He is lesser or not equal to the Father but is glorified because of the willing, self-denial that embodies His ministry.
No comments:
Post a Comment