"Behold My Servant"

Book of Isaiah 42 verse 1. Behold my servant whom I uphold, mine elect in whom my soul delighteth. Book of Isaiah chapter 52, verse 13. Isaiah 52, 13.

Behold my servant shall deal prudently. He shall be exalted, he shall be extolled, and be very high. Now Matthew's Gospel chapter 12.

The Gospel according to Matthew chapter 12. Matthew 12, verse 18. Behold my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom my soul is well pleased.

The Lord will bless what we have heard today and also the reading from his good word. Sometimes the need is comfort. Other times the need is correction.

Sometimes the need is Christ exalting. And what I've come with this afternoon, we're going to consider a ministry of Christ. Now, I was taught as a young Christian, if God says a thing once, it's important.

If God says a thing twice, it's double important. And if God says a thing three times, it must be very, very important. And three times I've read this afternoon, behold my servant.

Have you ever noticed when God speaks about his servants, he always mentions them? For example, Abraham, my servant. Moses, my servant. Jacob, my servant.

Caleb, my servant. Israel, my servant. Jacob, my servant.

And yet I've read in Isaiah 42, behold my servant. And there's no name given. I've read in Isaiah chapter 52, behold my servant.

And there's no name given. And I've read in Matthew chapter 12, behold my servant. And there's no name given.

And you and I know whom God is speaking about. Now remember, it was confusing to the eunuch, of whom speaketh himself this? Of himself? Or of some other men? But you and I know whom God is speaking about. Now let me say two things very quickly.

Very often we're taken up with what Christ is to us, and rightly so. Remember what Job says? My Redeemer. You remember what David says? My Shepherd.

You remember what Mary said? My Savior. You remember what Thomas said? My Lord, my God. You remember what the bride said? My Beloved, my Friend.

Sometimes you and I are taken up with what Christ is to us, and rightly so. For remember, Christ is everything to us. He's the source of our life.

He's the strength of our life. He's the secret of our life. He's the sustenance of our life.

He's the satisfaction of our life. Christ is everything to you and I. But have you ever considered what Christ is to God? Listen to certain phrases. I haven't time to develop them.

My Shepherd. My Sovereign. My Sacrifice.

My Son. My Servant. So, I'm going to share the time with a brother, and that clock will have no mercy on us.

What kind of a servant was Jehovah's servant? Let's say a few things about Jehovah's servant. The first thing I'm going to say about Jehovah's servant is this. You know, he was a servant that was unique.

There was no other servant like Jehovah's servant. For example, he said things that no other had ever said. And he did things that no other ever did.

He was a servant that was unique. Listen to the words of the hymn writer. Boundless in might and yet so meek.

In every circumstance unique. None else we see and only speak of God's beloved Son. He was a servant, a servant that was unique.

And then secondly, very quickly, he was a servant that was righteous. Listen to what the Bible says. By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many.

Listen again to the words of the hymn writer. Ways of holiness and duty. Righteousness and matchless love.

Dignity and moral beauty marked him out as from above. He was a servant that was righteous. Come again.

You know, he was a servant that was perfect. Listen to what Isaiah says. He shall not fail nor be discouraged.

He was a servant that was precious. Our praise ascends to thee. For him, the altogether lovely one.

Thy perfect servant, thy beloved Son. Our praise ascends to thee. He was a servant that was perfect.

You know, he was a servant that was lowly. Remember John 13? Poured water into a basin. Girded himself with a towel.

Began to wash his disciples' feet. And to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. He was the servant that was lowly.

He was the servant that was holy. He was Jehovah's suffering servant. And much more could be said about Jehovah's servant.

Now what's the gospel that speaks about Jehovah's servant? And of course, it's Mark's gospel. In Mark's gospel, we have the diligence of the servant. Now young Christian, get this.

In Mark's gospel, it's the only gospel that says Christ sat down on the right hand of God. It's the evidence of a finished work. The servant has completed his service and he sat down on the right hand of God.

And remember, it's only in Mark's gospel I read a verse like this. He hath done all things well. He maketh the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak.

Now, when you study a gospel, look for three things. First of all, you look for a key word. Then secondly, you look for a key verse.

And then thirdly, you look for a key chapter. Now, I'm going to give you what I believe is the key word for Mark's gospel. What is the key verse for Mark's gospel? And what is the key chapter for Mark's gospel? And if you've got a different key... There's a way to say, if you've got a different key from me, kind of rhymes.

If you've got a different key that I have, that's alright with me. For remember, sometimes two keys are better than one. Especially when you lock them in the car.

So I'm going to give you the three keys for Mark's gospel. Well, I think we'll all agree with the key word. It's immediately or straight away.

So I see a few nods. That's okay. So that's the key word for Mark's gospel.

I'm satisfied the key verse for Mark's gospel is Mark 10 and 45. Half of you don't know what that verse is. The Son of Man came not to be ministered unto but to minister and to give his life a ransom for the many.

I believe that's the key verse to Mark's gospel. And I'm satisfied that the key chapter to Mark's gospel is Mark's gospel chapter 1. So there we have the key word. We have the key verse.

And we have the key chapter. Now I've chosen, I won't speak on them, but I've chosen five things that match Jehovah's servant in Mark chapter 1. And I'll give you the five and perhaps we'll speak on three. Now the first thing I notice, here's a servant that has a commendation.

And remember, every servant needs a commendation. And I'm going to notice this servant has the commendation of heaven. And he has the commendation of earth.

And he has the commendation of hell. So we're going to notice mainly a servant that has a commendation. The second thing I notice about the servant is this.

He's a servant that is controlled. Listen to what it says. He was moved.

He was driven by the spirit into the wilderness. He was a servant that was controlled. The third thing I notice about the servant is this.

He was a servant that enjoyed communion. Oh yes, he was a busy servant. But he goes into the desert place.

And he prays to his father. He was a servant that enjoyed communion. You know he was a servant that was marked by compassion.

Peter's wife, mother, lay sick of a fever. And Jehovah's servant is marked by compassion towards her. He is a servant that is marked by compassion.

And the fifth thing I notice about Jehovah's servant is this. Here's a servant that has a commission. Let us go to the next town also.

For here unto was I sent. Let's think of the first thing very quickly. Here's a servant that has a commendation.

The first thing I want to emphasize is this. He's the servant that has the commendation of heaven. Listen to Mark 1. The heavens were opened.

And the spirit of God descended upon him as a dove. And the voice from heaven is heard to say. This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.

He has the commendation of heaven. But then secondly. He has the commendation of earth.

Listen to the words of John the Baptist. He that cometh after me is preferred before me. For he was before me.

And Mark says, he's mightier than I. The latchet of whose shoes I'm not worthy to stoop down and unloose. He has the testimony of earth. But you know in Mark chapter 1. Listen to what the demon says about him.

We know thee who thou art. Thou holy one of God. And he is a servant.

That has a commendation. The commendation of heaven. The commendation of earth.

And the commendation of hell. And I want to say it. What a man does.

Is more important than what a man says. But what a man is. Is more important than what a man does.

What a man says. What a man is. Is character.

You remember the testimony of Samuel. There's a man of God in the city. Do you remember the testimony of Ruth? All the city of my people doth know.

That thou art a virtuous woman. And he is Jehovah's servant. And he's a servant that enjoys.

Commendation. But then finally. He's a servant that enjoys communion.

Now let me ask you one question. What's the outcome of communion? Let me say a few things this afternoon about communion. Do you know the only safeguard against backsliding? It's not good company.

Do you remember Demas? Every time you read about Demas in the Bible. He's always in the best of company. I want to remind every brother today.

Every sister today. The only safeguard against backsliding. Is communion.

Let me apply. You remember what David said to Abiatha. Listen to what David said to Abiatha.

Abide thou with me, fear not. He that seeketh thy life. Seeketh my life also.

But get the last phrase. With me. Ye shall be in safeguard.

And I believe the only safeguard against backsliding. Is fellowship with God. Fellowship with Christ.

And communion with the Holy Spirit. It's the safeguard against backsliding. Now what does communion do? What did communion do in the life of Moses? You know, it made his face to shine.

Now remember this. Moses was not going around the camp. Look at my face, it's shining.

Listen to what the Bible says. He wished not that the skin of his face did shine. Somebody said this.

Oh for the shining of the face. Oh for the ignorance of the shining. Communion in the life of Moses made his face to shine.

What about communion in the life of Peter and John? It produced boldness. When they saw the boldness of Peter and John. And remembered that they were unlearned and ignorant men.

They took knowledge that they had been with Jesus. Have you ever heard the expression, you get like the company you keep? You get like the company you keep. What with wise men.

And thou shalt be wise. But a companion of fools shall be destroyed. Young Christian.

You keep company with Christ. And likeness to Christ will be seen in your life. Will be seen in my life.

As a child of God. Oh for a closer walk. A greater love for thee.

A fuller knowledge of thyself. A life of victory. Jehovah's servant had a commendation.

And Jehovah's servant enjoyed communion.