Tuesday of Holy Week
(Isaiah 49:1-6; John 13:21-33.36-38)
One of the great questions in Bible studies is who is the “servant”
of today’s first reading. He also
appears prominently in three other passages in what is often called “Second
Isaiah.” Except for the possible nomenclature “Israel” that appears in today’s
passage, the Servant is never named.
Some say the Suffering Servant is indeed the people of Israel. But if so, others ask, how can the same
person be said to “restore the survivors of Israel”? Others say that the servant is the prophet
himself. This also seems strange. How might the “light to the nations” never
named?
Christians have had no trouble identifying the “Servant of
the Lord.” They would ask, who else could it be but the Lord Jesus? Through Jesus’ blood, God has forgiven the
sins of the world. He suffered insult
and violence, as the other passages claim, to bring the nations together.
This week above all we honor Jesus for his sacrifice. He allowed himself to be treated like a lamb
that was slaughtered to win for us freedom from sin and death.
