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SCRIPTURE READING

ISAIAH 49:1-7
1 CORINTHIANS 1:1-9
JOHN 1:29-34

SUNDAY REFLECTION

Behold the Servant of the Lord is the theme for our reflection. To behold is to gaze upon someone or something of a truly remarkable or impressive nature; it is to look with intentionality and awe. A servant, by definition, is a person called or employed to perform duties for others. Therefore, the command to “Behold the servant of the Lord” means we must fix our absolute attention on the specific Servant who has been chosen and commissioned by God Himself. Who is this Servant, and what is His divine mission? Jesus Christ is the Chief Servant of all the servants of the Lord. Today, our reflection shall focus on the transformative mission of the Servant of the Lord through two vital lenses:

1. The Servant of the Lord came to save the world.
2. The Servant of the Lord calls the redeemed into His divine mission.

First, the Servant of the Lord came to save the world. During Israel’s weary exile in Babylon, the Prophet Isaiah delivered a soaring message of hope and restoration. He assured the people that the Lord would appoint Israel as His servant, and through Israel, He would orchestrate the salvation of the world. Israel was to be honoured among the nations, not for her own sake, but through her call to serve the Almighty. The Scripture declares: “Thus says the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nation, the servant of rulers: ‘Kings shall see and arise; princes, and they shall prostrate themselves; because of the LORD, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.’” (Isaiah 49:7).

This prophecy and God’s gracious promise found their ultimate fulfilment in the person of Jesus Christ, who entered our world as an Israelite. It was for this very reason that when John the Baptist saw Jesus, he triumphantly revealed: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptising with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” John bore witness further, saying: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptise with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptises with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.” (John 1:29-34).

Dear friend, while God has appointed many servants throughout history, Jesus Christ remains the Chief Servant because He alone took away the sin of the world. Indeed, “…God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3:16-17). Through the lineage of Israel, Jesus was sent to redeem not only Israel herself but all of humanity.

Saint Paul echoed this truth to the Galatians: “Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, ‘In you shall all the nations be blessed.’ So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith… There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.” (Galatians 3:7-9, 28-29).

Jesus, our Master, Lord, and Saviour, identified Himself as the Servant and compels us to follow His perfect example. He told His disciples: “You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” (John 13:13-17). We cannot truly follow our Saviour without embracing the humility of a servant. We must be transformed into His image, as the Scripture urges: “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name.” (Philippians 2:5-9).

Second, having accomplished the work of salvation, Jesus calls those who are saved to also become servants of the Lord. Paul highlights this calling in his letter to the Corinthians: “Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 1:1-3).

Beloved, we have been saved by grace to serve by grace. We are equipped and enriched in Christ in all speech and knowledge through the power of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 1:4-6). Jesus commissioned us with authority, saying: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20).

Are you serving the Lord with your whole life? Remember, we are stewards required to serve for as long as we have breath. Jesus reminds us of the posture we must maintain: “So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’” (Luke 17:10). As dedicated servants, we must support the mission of the Church and seek the lost, awaiting the second coming of our Lord. When we serve faithfully, we can look forward to that glorious commendation: “…‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’” (Matthew 25:21).

In conclusion, we have meditated on the theme, “Behold the Servant of the Lord.” We have seen that Jesus Christ is the Chief Servant who saved the world, and He has called each of us to continue that mission. Let us rise to this high calling with humility and zeal.

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PRAYER

Almighty and Everlasting God, we thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, the perfect Servant who laid down His life for our redemption. Grant us the grace to behold Him daily and to be transformed into His likeness. Clothe us with humility, Lord, that we may serve one another with love and carry the light of the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Strengthen us by Your Holy Spirit to be faithful stewards of the talents and the mission You have entrusted to us. May our lives bring glory to Your name until we enter into Your eternal joy. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Chief Servant, we pray. Amen.