We enter into a series of chapters in Isaiah that talk about “The Servant of the Lord.” We already saw him in Isaiah 42. It begins:

Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. (Isaiah 42.1, 2, ESV)

Note the theme: “Justice to the nations.” It continues in chapter 49, which we looked at briefly last week:

And now the LORD says, he who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him; and that Israel might be gathered to him— for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD, and my God has become my strength— he says: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” (Isaiah 49.5, 6, ESV)

Both Jesus and Paul claimed guidance from these verses, and Jesus certainly lived it out. We just watched the episode in The Chosen (Season 2, Episode 1) where Jesus and the disciples are in Samaria, and James and John just want Samaritans to be consumed by fire!

When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But he turned and rebuked them. (Luke 9.51 – 55, ESV)

“Jesus turned and rebuked them.” Jesus came for everyone, including (hated) Samaritans. The Chosen has Jesus explaining to James and John that it’s hard to reach people if we’re busy calling down destruction on them!

Isaiah was clear that the Good News is for everyone, and Jesus was even clearer in his parting words:

Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.” (Luke 24.45 – 47, ESV)

All nations, beginning from Jerusalem (because that’s where they were!). Lorne Sanny, the second International President of The Navigators said, “You cannot reach the world starting from where you are not!”

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. (Acts 1.8, ESV)

Jerusalem -> Judea -> Samaria -> to the end of the earth

It’s for everyone and that idea is not new!