Justice At Last!
based on Isaiah 42:1-7
Pastor Richard Mau
Baptism of Our Lord – January 8 & 12, 2003
Immanuel Lutheran – Des Plaines, IL
Today’s Scripture:
Psalm 45:7-9 Isaiah 42:1-7 Acts 10:34-38 Mark 1:4-11
Prayer: Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our Rock, and our Redeemer. Amen. [Psalm 19:14, adapted]
Isaiah 42:1b "I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations.”
Wanting justice, we want justice in our lives. Many here today have wanted justice in some sort of incident in your lives. We see in publicized trials victims and families of victims wanting justice for wrongs and/or serious crimes. The symbol for justice shows a blind-folded woman holding scales that are equally balanced.
In today’s passage God has Isaiah writing about justice to his people then, and to us today. This passage is the first of three “Servant Songs” in Isaiah that proclaim what the coming Messiah is going to do. God speaks very clearly that Messiah is his servant, whom he upholds and has chosen and delights in. This servant will “bring justice to the nations,” to all people everywhere.
The root for the Hebrew word for justice means, “to wash.” In justice, wrongs and inequalities are “washed” clean and the original state is restored. The trouble with us here on earth is that it is difficult to achieve perfect justice. No matter how well the legal system operates, one cannot perfectly restore the situation as it was before the crime was committed.
That is how it is in our sinful lives. No matter how hard any one tries, it is humanly impossible to restore one’s self as God created man, without sin, and in his image. The desire for that perfection and the impossibility of achieving it is the tension in which we live in this world.
God has promised and has delivered relief and resolution to that tension. As God demands justice, God is also a God of mercy. In this passage he shows that in saying he will not break a bruised reed or snuff out a smoldering wick. The bruised stem of a tender plant is so fragile, or a smoldering wick so easily looses its fire, God’s mercy is not to further trample sinners in their guilt and lost condition. God’s mercy is to give relief, is to wash clean the troubled soul of repentant sinners, and wash clean the record to present his children perfect again, restored in his image as he created man. He nurtures and sustains the bruised reed of guilt-ridden sinners. He breathes the breath of life in the smoldering wick of weakened faith, building up strong faith with his word. He makes his people whole again.
It is his faithful servant who does this. That is the importance of Jesus’ becoming man to live, suffer, die, and rise from the grave for you and for all who believe in him. Jesus went to John the Baptist who performed a baptism of repentance. But Jesus had no sin. Why should he submit to a baptism of repentance? He repented of all sins of all people, yours and mine, as he carried those sins for all. John the Baptist pointed Jesus out as the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” John the Baptist was sent before Jesus to point to Jesus as the Savior. God revealed to John the Baptist who Jesus was at that baptism. All of God’s glory shined at that moment. Jesus, the Son of God made man was present, doing what he was sent to do, carry the sins of the world. God the Father was present as he proclaimed that this indeed is His one and only Son. God the Father declared that He is pleased with this Son, who obeys him perfectly and serves all people as he was sent to do. And the Holy Spirit descended and rested on Jesus, showing that Jesus did have God’s Spirit, in all power and holiness to do the things God declared needed to be done. In the witness at his baptism we know well before the crucifixion that all that Jesus does has the blessing and acceptance of God our heavenly Father.
In this passage from Isaiah we see the Trinity revealed as God, the Father speaks, identifying his servant who is Jesus, and declares that he will put his Spirit, yes, the Holy Spirit on his servant, Jesus. In Jesus’ baptism we see the prophecy fulfilled as Jesus, God’s servant, repents of all of your sins for you, receives the washing of Baptism for those sins, and the Holy Spirit not only appears, but “remains” on Jesus indicating not just a passing moment, but the continuing presence of God’s Spirit in and with Jesus.
Later at his ascension Jesus commands and gives his baptism to all. He wants you to know that in his name and by his blood shed on the cross, all of your sins are washed away, completely forgiven. He wants you to know that God the Father gives to you all of the blessings of creation for your good while here on earth. He wants you to know that the power of the Holy Spirit is given you to do what you cannot do by your own reason or strength, come to faith in Jesus Christ and come to him. God has declared justice for all believers, the complete washing of all sins and restoring to the perfect image as Jesus presents you in his righteousness in place of your own at judgment.
At the same time, justice is completed, as all who reject Jesus as the Son of God and Savior of all do receive judgment for all evil. Not trusting in Christ is a terminal decision. As Christians, we pray daily for those who reject Christ to come to faith in him. As Christians, we show the love of God daily in our thoughts, words and deeds to share God’s love through Jesus with others so they begin to see the joys God gives through us. As Christians, we tell others and give of ourselves and our resources freely so that the word of Jesus Christ is proclaimed openly and completely to all people so all can hear and come to know Jesus.
God sent his servant, his own dear Son, to open eyes that are blind to his truth, to free captives from the prison of sin that Satan holds us, and to release from the dungeon of darkness of unbelief those who now believe in Jesus as the Son of God and Savior of all people.
Today we rejoice and give thanks for this Savior. Today we rejoice and give thanks for his baptism, taking our sins upon him. Today we rejoice and give thanks for our baptism, washing us and giving us new life of faith and eternal life in that faith. Today we rejoice and give thanks for his death and resurrection which we receive in that baptism, taking our sins to the grave in death and restoring our souls and bodies in the glorious resurrection promised to all who believe. Amen.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. [Philippians 4:7]
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