Isaiah 42:1-13

Mar 25, 2024 • Pastor Daryl Zachman

“He will not fail nor be discouraged, till He has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands shall wait for His law.” (Isaiah 42:4, NKJV)

Jesus Christ came as the Servant of the LORD and a light to the Gentiles. God’s heart has always been that the entire world would worship Him. He chose Abraham and his descendants to be the family through whom the Messiah would come. It was through Abraham’s Seed that all the nations of the world would be blessed.

But it was no easy task for Christ to bring light to the Gentiles. It was evident in Christ’s day that the Jews had failed in their witness. The temple was to be a house of prayer for all nations. The court of the Gentiles was as close as a non-Jew could come to the LORD. But instead of welcoming the worship of the Gentiles, the Jews had set up tables for the money changers to exchange regular currency into “temple currency” at exorbitant exchange rates. They sold sacrificial animals, with all their noises and smells, at inflated prices.

Now on Monday during Holy Week, Jesus entered the temple. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. Then He said:

“Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’” (Mark 11:17, NKJV)

By cleansing the temple, Jesus cleared the way so that the Gentiles could worship the LORD in spirit and in truth.

“I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.” (Isaiah 42:1, NKJV)

The Jews were not happy about this and later questioned Jesus about His authority (Mark 11:28). But Christ did not fail nor was He discouraged. He was bound and determined to bring forth justice to the Gentiles because He came for this purpose. A bruised reed He does not break, and a smoking wick He does not put out. He opens blind eyes and brings prisoners out of darkness.

Let us give God thanks today for all that Christ has done to free us from our sins and to bring us into a covenant relationship with God.