“Turning Wine Into Water” Isaiah 53: 1 – 12 Romans 12: 1 - 2

ISAIAH 40 - 66 Addressed to Jewish exiles near the end of Babylonian exile Bright: the EXILE was a calamity of total proportions for Jewish people land was in shambles temple had been destroyed / left in ruins only the poorest of the poor had remained in Judah those who survived lived with memories of war / starvation / etc. (pp. 127 – 129) Eugene Peterson (The Jesus Way) “The disaster far exceeded the wreckage in the land, temple, palace, and people. There was something far deeper with far more extensive implications: HUMILIATION, the deepest conceivable humiliation. The faith of Abraham, the words of Moses, the humanity of David, the fire of Elijah . . . , all that and more was gone. Absence. Silence. Ashes.” (p.152)

“A voice cries out. . .” The “Sovereign” God has not forgotten about them God is doing a “NEW THING” (ISAIAH 43:19) “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God . . He does not faint or grow weary . . . he gives power to the faint and strengthens the powerless . . . Even youths will faint and grow weary . . . but those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint” (ISAIAH 40) “ARISE, shine; for your light has come and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the earth and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will rise upon you” (ISAIAH 60)

“A voice cries out. . .” The SOVEREIGN God reveals himself as a SERVANT (Servant Songs) The SERVANT brings forth justice and releases prisoners from dungeon (chpt 42) The SERVANT leads people back to their destiny under God (chpt 49) The SERVANT sustains his people who are weary in pain and disgrace (chpt 50) The SERVANT suffers on behalf of his people (chpt 53)

“The Suffering Servant” No beauty or majesty to attract us to him Led like a sheep to be slaughtered Despised / rejected / oppressed / afflicted Bears their iniquities / makes them righteous Oft’ used GOOD FRIDAY text which describes Christ’s suffering to purchase of our salvation

“The Suffering Servant” Bright: the servant-figure is not solely a prediction of Jesus Peterson: “There is more to the servant than Jesus. . . there are also his servants . . . we are in on this too . . . we cannot disqualify ourselves”

Israel’s Mission – A Light To The Nations “I will give you as a light to the nations . . .” (49:6) “. . . Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn” (60: 2 - 3) “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth!” (45:22) Ron Carlson: “missional communities...serve God’s purpose by BEING good news people and DOING good news . . .”

“The Games People Play” (Joe South) “Beautiful Feet” “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news” (Isaiah 52:7 and Romans 10:9) Beauty is not about “prettiness” but a condition of the heart “The Games People Play” (Joe South) “People walking up to you, Singing glory hallelulia, And they’re trying to sock it to you, In the name of the Lord”