Our Savior Came to Heal and to Save
After giving us four chapters of historical narrative, Isaiah shifts back to more prophecy. His future-focused look tells us about Jesus and justice.
Though Jesus is God’s Son, as our Savior—the Messiah—he is also God’s servant, who will come to earth in service of Father God to restore us into a right relationship with him. God chose Jesus to redeem his people, for God delights in him.
Under the power of God’s Spirit, the Messiah will champion justice. This justice isn’t only for the nation of Judah, but it’s for all nations—all people, everyone. This Savior will not proclaim his message with loud, boisterous words but with gentleness. He will protect the weak and encourage those who struggle.
Jesus
Jesus will faithfully promote justice, never wavering from his mission. Through his followers, both then and now, he will persist until he spreads justice throughout the whole world.
Centuries after Isaiah’s prophecy, when Jesus comes to earth, he will come to heal and to save. Today most people seek Jesus for his saving power, while two thousand years ago people came to him more for his healing power.
Where does justice fit into all this?
Justice
The people in the Old Testament expected that the promised Savior would come as a military leader to rescue them from their oppressors. They assumed he would be an actual king, in the line of King David, ushering in an era of justice.
They believed that at his arrival, the Jews would finally receive fair treatment meted out by a morally righteous leader. He would be true in all he does, governing his people with excellence and protecting them from the immoral oppression of ungodly leaders from opposing nations.
Most of us don’t see Jesus today as a physical Savior but as a spiritual Savior. However, throughout the world, many people struggle under the weight of oppressive regimes. They need physical deliverance. They seek the Savior who will provide them with justice. They need Jesus.
We all do.
[Read through the Bible with us this year. Today’s reading is Isaiah 42-45 and today’s post is on Isaiah 42:1.]
Read more about the book of Isaiah in For Unto Us: 40 Prophetic Insights About Jesus, Justice, and Gentiles from the Prophet Isaiah available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.
5 replies on “Jesus and Justice”
Jesus needs us too. The Church is the family of Jesus. In these post colonial days, the Church is under extreme pressure from people who have lost faith in the Church. Here in Canada, many indigenous people and their advocates are holding the Church accountable for the deaths of thousands of children forced into Residential Schools in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The thinking back then was…kill the Indian inside the child and let the Holy Spirit give them new life as citizens of God…as sons of Canada in the Dominion of Canada. Fast forward to today. Many modern people are offended with such language and the idea that all disciples of Christ die to self and worldly beliefs when they are crucified with Christ and welcomed into the family of God. Many modern people champion personal freedoms such as the right to have sex outside marriage and to change one’s gender at puberty if one feels oppressed in their biological gender or the right to kill an unwanted fetus. Sadly, many see Jesus as the big rock who keeps people from having such personal freedoms. For many people Justice is about Freedom and Equality and the right to pursue personal happiness. Consequently, many people see the Bible as the Servant of conservative, outdated morality that the Laws of Progressive Western Democracies are finally suppressing and liberating everyone from. As a Bible Lover, I disagree. For me, Jesus brings the Bible to life and opens up the stories and wisdom contained in the Bible that free people to connect with one another and deepen their understanding and love for each other. So thank you Peter for reminding people they do need this personal deliverance–that Jesus gives.
Yes, Linda. We all need Jesus!
I believe the reason many Western Christians see Jesus as merely spiritual savior as opposed to physical savior is due to the “Gospel” that they hear preached. Whereas Jesus, the Apostles and Paul all preached about entering in the kingdom of God; what gets preached nowadays in many places is: Jesus came and died so I can go to heaven when I die. While this type of Gospel is true, it’s incomplete. As members of the already inaugurated yet to be consummated kingdom of God; it’s our responsibility and privilege to embrace, demonstrate and proclaim the kingdom of God. As one author put it; it’s not the Church’s role to make the world a better place. The Church has been called to be the better place, a foretaste of the consummated kingdom when Jesus returns. This would include physical salvation as well as spiritual.
Great point, Robert.
We’ve watered down the gospel and this is the results.
Excellent point Robert!