2023 Advent Devotional - Isaiah 52:13-14 (Day 7)

Isaiah 52:13-14 “Behold, my servant shall act wisely; he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted. 14 As many were astonished at you— his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind—“

The Gift of Service and Sacrifice seen in Jesus’ coming

By definition, a servant exists to serve others.  Usually, we think of a servant as someone of lower class. So, to think about a wise servant, a servant king, that would be lifted up and exalted, is a remarkable image. This passage gives us a clear understanding of what our Messiah was going to do for us.  Verse 14 describes His horrible beatings, humiliation, and crucifixion on the cross.  This was our Lord and Savior being a servant, sacrificing and suffering for us.  The descriptions of Jesus’ beatings would absolutely have been a person marred beyond human semblance.  This is exactly what Jesus comes to do for all of us.  He willingly serves others and, in the end, gives his life and suffers for every one of us.  What an incredible gift this is!

Verse 13 foretells His resurrection!  God humbled Himself and was born as a human being.  He went through all of this and was lifted up from the grave.  He is exalted in His transfiguration and reigns above in Heaven.  These verses sum up the epic (amazing) true story of our Lord!

We must have faith that our Lord God, did these things for us and that by His grace, from our Perfect Servant, now exalted King, we have been saved.  We are challenged to show God’s love in this severely damaged place we call Earth until the day we meet Him in Heaven.  Jesus also gives us a map to follow.  It is a gift to be able to serve others.  The gift of service is not only for the people that are blessed by that service, but also for us.  We are told by Jesus that “it is better to give than receive” (Acts 20:35).  He knows that our desires for tangible things often get in the way of our relationship with Him and become other “gods” to us.  Serving and sacrificing for others is a gift that God wants for us.  

Thank you, Lord, for all you have done for me. I thank you for continuing to amaze me with your influence on my life and many others throughout the world.  Help me to see the opportunities I have, to use Your gift of sacrifice and service for others around me.  Use me to lead a purpose-driven life and in doing so help me be better connected to you.  Amen
By Lisa Simmons