Jan. 6 - Epiphany

From the First Lesson for this day - Isaiah 42:1-9

The Prophet Isaiah is known for his descriptions of Jesus Christ hundreds of years before His birth. The most vivid is the image of the Suffering Servant, in which Isaiah describes Christ's passion with foreknown accuracy.

In the 42nd chapter what a beautiful picture of Christ is painted by Isaiah. It mirrors the vision of Christ in the washing River Jordan, baptized by St. John the Baptist on that first Epiphany. It echoes the glory of His Transfiguration.

This is what God showed Isaiah:
"Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street... he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth..."

My limited eyes see the Lord Jesus Christ in the narrow visions of my mind. I see the icons of Him both humbled and glorified. I see Salman's "Head of Christ" in serenity and prayer. I see Him in my mind's eye, fashioned as I would have Him, in hopes that this is how He is.

Do I see the servant?
Do I see the Elect One?
Do I see the Judge of the Gentiles?

Not only does Isaiah give us a description of the Lord, he gives us the reasons God called Him:
"I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house."

Jesus Christ came in righteousness to be a covenant for me and God. For the whole world of God. For the ones who don't deserve it, "Gentiles" so to speak. From the blindness of my heart, the prison of my soul, Jesus Christ has come to let me see, set me free.

Finally, Isaiah speaks of God's Servant's divinity:
"I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images... new things do I declare..."

New things can only come from living things. Stone, metal, wood - none of these produce life. This is why God abhors graven images. Life comes from God. He is the Living God. "New things" He declares because He is always new.