The second book of the New Testament, Mark, presents the Lord Jesus as the holy Servant for God on earth. The prophets had written that the Holy One would come as a Servant as well as the King.
“Behold My Servant, whom I uphold; Mine elect, in whom My soul delighteth; I have put My Spirit upon Him” (Isa. 42:1).
That Servant’s coming was as sure as the heavens and earth having been created, for these words follow: “Thus saith God the Lord, He that created the heavens ... He that spread forth the earth ... He that giveth breath unto the people upon it ... I the Lord have called Thee ... and will keep Thee” (Isa. 42:5-6).
This Servant would be meek and humble, unlike any other, and He would do great good for people: He would open the eyes of the blind, cause the deaf to hear, bear the sorrows of the people, and preach God’s words to them (See Isaiah 42:2, 7; 53:3; 61:1).
Jesus’ Public Work Begins
In this history of Jesus, as the holy Servant, the story of His birth is not told. However, when He began His important work for God, He came to the Jordan River to be baptized by the prophet John. The Spirit from heaven then rested upon Him, and His faithful, constant work began.
This holy Servant made the blind see, the deaf hear, the dumb speak, the lame walk, and the sick well. He cured the lepers, fed the hungry, and told God’s words: He did all that the prophets had foretold and more.
A good servant does his work promptly, and that was told of the Lord Jesus many times in this Book of Mark: Jesus went or did “immediately” or “straightway” (right away). When He cured sickness, the persons immediately were made well.
When Jesus called the men of Galilee to follow Him, they came immediately as good servants (Mark 1:20).
Despised Servant
We would expect such a faithful, holy Servant for God to be treated well by all men, but He was not. The prophets had also written that of the holy Servant: Isaiah wrote, “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was despised, and we esteemed Him not” (Isa. 53:3).
Jesus spoke of Himself as coming to “minister,” to do for others, or serve. He said, “Even the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).
“The Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isa. 53:6).
“Christ ... who ... made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men” (Phil. 2:57).
Further Meditation
1. Why did the Spirit rest on Jesus before He began His public service?
2. How did Paul the servant suffer?
3. For more perspective on suffering, consider reading The Sufferings of This Little While by J. N. Darby (only 4 pages).