This
reading is from the last of four passages in Isaiah that are often called
“servant songs.” Christians are probably most familiar with this servant
song. In light of Christian faith, the servant’s healing ministry and
redemptive suffering are understood to be fulfilled in the life and death of
Christ.
4Surely
he has borne our infirmities
and carried our diseases;
yet we accounted him stricken,
struck down by God, and afflicted.
5But
he was wounded for our transgressions,
crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the punishment that made us whole,
and by his bruises we are healed.
6All
we like sheep have gone astray;
we have all turned to our own way,
and the Lord
has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
7He
was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
8By
a perversion of justice he was taken away.
Who could have imagined his future?
For he was cut off from the land of the living,
stricken for the transgression of my people.
9They
made his grave with the wicked
and his tomb with the rich,
although he had done no violence,
and there was no deceit in his mouth.
10Yet
it was the will of the Lord
to crush him with pain.
When you make his life an offering for sin,
he shall see his offspring, and shall prolong his days;
through him the will of the Lord
shall prosper.
11Out
of his anguish he shall see light;
he shall find satisfaction through his knowledge.
The righteous one, my servant, shall make many righteous,
and he shall bear their iniquities.
12Therefore
I will allot him a portion with the great,
and he shall divide the spoil with the strong;
because he poured out himself to death,
and was numbered with the transgressors;
yet he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.
You
have made the Lord
your refuge, and the Most High your habitation. (Ps. 91:9)
9Because
you have made the |
Lord
your refuge,
and the Most High your |
habitation,
10no
evil |
will befall you,
nor shall affliction come |
near your dwelling.
11For
God will give the angels charge |
over you,
to guard you in |
all your ways.
12Upon
their hands they will |
bear you up,
lest you strike your foot a- |
gainst a stone. R
13You
will tread upon the lion |
cub and viper;
you will trample down the lion |
and the serpent.
14I
will deliver those who |
cling to me;
I will uphold them, because they |
know my name.
15They
will call me, and I will |
answer them;
I will be with them in trouble; I will rescue and |
honor them.
16With
long life will I |
satisfy them,
and show them |
my salvation. R
Using
imagery from scripture and from Jewish worship practices, Jesus is presented as
the great high priest who was obedient to God’s saving plan. Through his
suffering and death he has become the source of eternal salvation.
1Every high priest chosen from among mortals is put
in charge of things pertaining to God on their behalf, to offer gifts and
sacrifices for sins. 2He
is able to deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is
subject to weakness; 3and because of this he must offer sacrifice for his
own sins as well as for those of the people. 4And
one does not presume to take this honor, but takes it only when called by God,
just as Aaron was.
5So
also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest, but was appointed
by the one who said to him,
“You are my Son,
today I have begotten you”;
6as
he says also in another place,
“You are a priest forever,
according to the order of Melchizedek.”
7In
the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud
cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was
heard because of his reverent submission. 8Although
he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; 9and
having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who
obey him, 10having
been designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.
On
the way to Jerusalem the disciples ask Jesus to grant them seats of honor. Jesus
responds by announcing that he and his followers will “rule” through
self-giving service.
35James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward
to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of
you.” 36And
he said to them, “What is it you want me to do for you?” 37And
they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your
left, in your glory.” 38But
Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to
drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized
with?” 39They
replied, “We are able.” Then Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you
will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized;
40but
to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those
for whom it has been prepared.”
41When
the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. 42So
Jesus called them and said to them, “You know that among the Gentiles those
whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are
tyrants over them. 43But
it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be
your servant, 44and
whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. 45For
the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom
for many.”
Copyright
© 2018 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under
Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SAS006405.
New
Revised Standard Version Bible, Copyright © 1989, Division of Christian
Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States
of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Revised
Common Lectionary, Copyright © 1992 Consultation on Common Texts, admin
Augsburg Fortress. Used by permission.