A Key to Open Scripture Metaphors, Book 2 · Part 2 · Subpart 9
Christ the Servant of God.
Isa. 42.1.
Behold my Servant whom I uphold, &c.
Isa. 19.6.
Is it a light thing that thou shouldest be my Servant? &c.
CHRIST is in these Scriptures called a Servant.
Metaphor
I. A Servant is one chosen to Office. If Men have Work or Business to do, they chuse one to be their Servant, whom they think fitly qualified, and able to do it.
II. A Servant is a Name of Subordination and Subjection, it respects an Office of an inferior Rank and Quality.
III. A Servant is one that hath a Trust committed to him, by a Master or Superior, to whom he is to be accountable.
IV. A Servant is oftentimes employed to labour, and hard Work, as to plow and sow, build and plant, &c.
V. A Servant is not to seek his own Glory, nor to do his own Will, no further than it comports or agrees with the Glory and Will of his Master or Father, but doth every thing that is commanded him, not being ashamed to acknowledg himself to be a Servant.
VI. A Servant is sent sometimes abroad to do Business, far from home, and is thereby exposed to many Dangers, and great Hardships.
VII. A Servant that is faithful, delights to do his Father's or Master's Business, preferring it above his Meat and Drink, as appeared by the Servant of Abraham, Gen. …4.33who would not eat nor drink before he had done his Errand.
VIII. A Servant that is faithful, will not go beyond his Commission in any thing. Saith God to Moses, Look that thou make them according to the Patern that I have shewed thee in the Mount. Exo. 25.40Exo. 40.16Thus did Moses; according to all that the Lord commanded him, thus did he.
IX. A Servant hath Right to Wages, and expects it, as the Desert of his Work; as Jacob said, Give me my Wife, for my Days are fulfilled. He demanded his Wife, after he had served seven Years for her.
X. 'Tis the Hope and Expectation of a Reward, that causeth a Servant to go through Difficulties and Hardships cheerfully; as it was in Jacob's case: As I was in the Day, the Drought consumed me, and the Frost by Night; yet he served seven Years for Rachel, and they seemed unto him but as a few Days, &c.
XI. A Servant is attended with Fear:Mal. 1.6. If I am a Master, where is my Fear?
Parallel.
I. CHrist was chosen by the Father, not to one Office only, but to many, to be a Mediator, King, Priest, and Prophet.Isa. 43.10. Behold my Servant whom I have chosen. He was every way furnished and fitly qualified for the great Work appointed for him. I have laid Help upon one that is mighty: Psal. 89.19I have exalted one chosen out of the People.
II. Christ in his Humiliation was abased so low, as to be in subjection to the Father: He made himself of no reputation, Phil. 2.6, 7and took upon him the Form of a Servant. I have been amongst you as he that serveth.Luk. 22.27
III. Christ hath a great Trust committed to him:Gen. 41.41 & 55 57. Joh. 1.16. Col 1.19. Is it a light thing that thou shouldest be my Servant, to raise up the Tribes of Israel? And as all the Treasures and Riches of Egypt were committed to Joseph; so are all the Riches of Heaven, both of Grace and Glory, committed to Christ: It pleased the Father, that in him should all Fulness dwell, Col. 2.3.in whom are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledg.
IV. Jesus Christ was employed in hard Work, viz. to redeem, and not only so,Acts 20.28 but to build the Temple or House of God. Ʋpon this Rock will I build my Church. Mat. 16.18Behold, the Man that is called the Branch,Zech. 6.12. he shall build the Temple of the Lord. A Sower went out to sow, Mat. 13.2, 37.this Sower is the Son of Man.
V. Jesus Christ, as God's Servant, sought not his own Glory. I honour my Father. If any Man will do his Will, Joh. 8.49. Joh. 7.17, 18. Luk. 22.42.he shall know of the Doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of my self. He that speaketh of himself, seeketh his own Glory; but he that seeketh the Glory of him that sent him, the same is true, &c. Father, not my Will but thy Will be done. Joh. 12.4… Joh. 15.10He that sent me, gave me commandment what I should say, and what I should speak. As I have kept my Fathers Commandments, &c.
VI. Jesus Christ, to do the Work of God as Mediator, was sent on a long Journey, as far as 'tis from Heaven to Earth, and was thereby exposed to much Difficulty, and great Hardships, from Men and Devils. He was persecuted from place to place, his Life being often in jeopardy;Mat. 8.20. he had no-where to lay his Head; and was at last most basely betrayed, and put to Death.
VII. The Lord Christ was most faithful. Tho he was a Son, Heb. 5.8. Joh. 4.34.yet learned he Obedience by the things he suffered. My Meat is, to do the Will of him that sent me, and to finish his Work. I delight to do thy Will, Psal. 40.8. Luk. 2.9▪O God. Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's Business?
VIII. The Lord Christ was faithful, in doing all things which God required of him; he went not beyond his Commission, nor did he neglect any part of his Work. He that God sent, Joh. 3.34.speaketh the Words of God, and I know that his Commandment is Life everlasting. Joh. 12.50Whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so speak I. Heb. 3.2.Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as Moses was faithful in all his House.
IX. The Lord Jesus Christ hath an absolute Right to a Reward for his Work's sake.Psal. 2.8. Tho there is no Merit or Desert for the Works which Believers do, being unprofitable Servants when they have done all;Isa. 52.13. yet there is very great Merit and Worth in what Christ did. And the Father will give him his Wages; he shall have his Wife, his Church, for whom he served above fourteen Years; nay, He shall have the Heathen for his Inheritance, and the uttermost Parts of the Earth for his Possession. Behold, Isa. 53.12.my Servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high: I will divide him a Portion with the Great, and he shall divide the Spoil with the Strong, because he hath poured out his Soul unto Death.— But we see Jesus, Heb. 1.9.who for suffering Death is crown'd with Glory and Honour, &c.
X. The Lord Jesus Christ, having in his eye that eternal Advantage his Elect should receive, and what Glory He, as Man, should be raised unto, as the Reward of his Undertaking, went through all his Sorrows with much cheerfulness. Who for the Joy that was set before him, Heb. 12.2.endured the Cross, despised the Shame, and is set down at the right-hand of the Throne of God
XI. The Lord Jesus Christ was subject, whilst he was here in our Nature, in the Form of a Servant, (at some time) unto Fear. He was made under the Law. 'Tis said, He was troubled in Spirit, Heb. 5.7.and was heard, in that he feared.
Metaphor.
I. A Servant and the Master are not essentially and inseparably one.
II. A Servant amongst Men hath not an inseparable Interest in his Master's Goods and Estate.
III. Servants among Men many times, through Temptation, prove unfaithful, and deceive either Father or Master; yea, the best Servants of good Men have in something or other miscarried.
IV. A Servant may be turn'd out of his Master's Service, and lose his Honour.
V. The Servant abides not in his Master's House for ever.
VI. A Servant differs from the Heir in Place, Dignity, and Privilege.
VII. Too many are oftentimes forced to become Servants, because they cannot otherwise tell how to live.
Disparity.
I. JEsus Christ, altho a Servant, is essentially one with the Father; the Father, Son, and Spirit, are but the one everlasting and eternal God. I and my Father are one. 1 Joh. 5.7.There are three that bear Record in Heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are inseparably one.
II. Christ hath a full, a clear, and inseparable Interest in all that the Father hath: All mine are thine, Joh. 17.1….and thine are mine, and I am glorified in them.
III. It was impossible for Christ to be unfaithful, or disobey God his Father, because he was without Sin, and Satan had nothing in him to fasten a Temptation upon.Joh▪ 14.30
IV. The Lord Jesus Christ did not, could not displease his Father, and therefore did not, nor could lose his Honour.Joh. 8.29. I do always the things that please him.
V. Jesus Christ abideth in the House of God for ever.
VI. Jesus Christ, tho he be called the Servant of God,Heb. 1.2. yet is he his own beloved Son, and Heir of all things, by whom he made the World. There is none in Heaven or Earth, that hath greater Glory, Place, or Privilege conferred upon upon him, than the Lord Jesus Christ.Heb. 15.8.
VII. Christ had no necessity of Nature laid upon him, to accept of the low Place and Office of a Servant. He was not forced to it, because he could not tell how to live without serving, he being infinitely happy in himself from Eternity; but the Glory of his Father, and the dear Love he bore to the Creature, even to poor lost Man, moved him to become a Servant; he did it freely for our sakes, that we might be Lords.
Inferences.
I. WE may note from hence the wonderful Condescension of Jesus Christ; there is nothing which sets forth his great Abasement for our sakes more than this; what Grace is this! Doth the Son of God, who is the Lord of Heaven and Earth, become a Servant! He that thought it no Robbery to be equal with God, Phil. 2.6, 7 Joh. 13 4, 5made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the Form of a Servant! The Son of Man came not to be ministred to, but to minister.
Quest. But some may enquire, Whose Servant is Christ? &c.
1. He is God's Servant: Behold my Servant, &c.
Mat. 20 282. He is his Peoples Servant: The Son of Man came not to be ministred unto, but to minister, and to give his Life for many.
II. Let us learn from him, hence-forward to humble our selves. Let the same Mind be in you, Phil. 2 5.that was also in Christ Jesus. Shall the Lord become a Servant? and shall the Servant swell in Pride and Arrogancy, and nothing content him but to be called Lord; nay, and lord it over God's Heritage, whose Servants they ought to be, if they would be Gospel-Ministers. Surely Christ abhors him who calls himself the Servant of Servants, whilst at the same time he exalts himself above All that are called Gods.
III. If the Lord Christ became a willing, humble, laborious, and faithful Servant for us, let us labour to be humble, faithful, and sincere Servants to him:Joh. 15.8. He hath done all the hardest Work, and if any remain too hard for us, he sticks not to set his hand to it. Thou hast wrought all our Works in us, Isa. 26.12.and for us.
IV. Let this teach us to follow his Example, and be Servants one to another: I have given you an Example, that you should do as I have done to you; John 13.14, 15.for this is acceptable to him.
V. Remember, 'tis an honourable, pleasant, and gainful thing, to be Christ's Servant. Paul seems to glory more in it, than in his being an Apostle:Joh. 12.26 If any Man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall my Servant also be. If any Man serve me, him will my Father honour.
VI. This justly reproves such who are ashamed to be Christ's Servants, and to bear Reproach and Infamy for his Name's sake, seeing he hath not stuck to serve them in denying himself, even to the ignominious Death of the Cross.Phil. 2.8.