Isaiah 52-53: Servant Work
Good Friday, April 18, 2025
The second part of Isaiah’s prophecy, the Book of Consolation, contains clear instructions for what to do when we are deeply troubled, for when we believe that we do not fully understand God’s plan, for when we feel abandoned by God. Verse 20 with its imagery of children caught in a net is particularly troublesome; but the image of our enemies drinking from the bowl of wrath that they themselves have brewed, quickly follows. This image reminds us of Haman in the story of Esther. As a successful servant of King Xerxes, Haman displays jealousy of Mordecai, a Jewish man whom Xerxes respects and values. Upset that Mordecai worships the One God, Haman fumes when Mordecai will not bow in homage to him. Haman plots a genocide of the Jews, and he erects a gallows in front of his house so that he may witness Mordecai’s execution. Later we discover that it is Haman and his family who are executed on this gallows.
So when we are fear-filled, we must remember to ask God’s grace, patience, and wisdom, to discern God’s hand in all that happens around us. We try to follow the example that Jesus has shown us, we abide in the faith that God knows all and keeps promises, and we pray intercessory prayers for those who do us damage.
See, my servant shall prosper, he shall be raised high and greatly exalted. Even as many were amazed at him – so marred was his look beyond that of man, and his appearance beyond that of mortals – so shall he startle nations.
As faithful servants, we strive not for perfection but for persistence. We cannot expect to live life unscathed, rather, we strive to reach the potential God has placed in us. The faithful servant wears the scars of existence and lives along the margins of life. This servant does not seek comfort in the physical world, nor does this one stay long in the heady turmoil of power, fame and wealth. The true servant meets God’s mercy and grace through the pain and suffering of life. The true servant knows that she finds serenity in God and not in the superficial satisfaction of grudges long held or of worldly battles soundly won. This is the mystery of Christ, and it is the mystery to which we are called. We are created to be servants to one another, servants of God.
On this Good Friday, we remember that Mary Magdalene in the cemetery garden and the apostles on the road to Emmaus did not recognize Christ in the early moments of his return . . . so transformed was he . . . so momentous was the transition from one life to the next.
This one who is God himself comes to meet us through the woe of our living.
This one who is God himself comes to meet us through the miseries of our existence.
This one who is God himself graces us with his healing touch.
This one who is God himself knows the intimate detail of our suffering.
This one who is God himself loves us so much that he will go wherever we are . . . sit with us no matter who we are . . . walk with us no matter where we go. This love knows no limit. This love leads us to joy.
Servant work is difficult. Servant work is frustrating. Servant work is humbling. Servant work is a gift. Servant work is the only work truly worth doing. Servant work is the work of Christ. As servants, we want to Awake, awake and put on our glorious garments of celebration. We want to shake off the dust, ascend to the throne with Christ where the bonds will be loosed from around our necks. We come forth, to depart, to set our feet upon the path of our journey with God as our faithful rear guard. We answer the call we hear . . . for it is the Servant Song, the song of the true, faithful servant.
Adapted from a reflection written on January 14, 2010.
Images from: https://www.amazon.com/Global-Gallery-Tissot-Mordecai-Giclee/dp/B01K1W7WMK and http://www.joyfulheart.com/easter/tissot-passion.htm
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