God The Father’s Servant — Jesus

Joel Hemphill

Jesus Christ is for sure the supernaturally conceived, virgin-born, sinless, human Son of God; savior, redeemer, Messiah, and the soon coming ruler of this planet for 1000 years. And yes, “highly exalted!” However, rather than being pictured in Holy Scripture as the eternal God, God the Son, or the second person of a Triune God, Jesus Messiah is often portrayed as God our Father’s “servant.” For example:

• Consider carefully these words from God regarding His coming Messiah, Jesus, “my servant.”

“Behold my servant whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgement to the Gentiles. He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgement in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law. Thus saith God the Lord, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it…. I the Lord [God] have called thee [Jesus] in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant to the people, for a light of the Gentiles; To open the blind eyes…” (Isaiah 42:1, 4-7). Study this carefully and see, that God calls the Messiah, “my servant.”

• And again God says through Isaiah:

“Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. 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. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows, yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. Yet it pleased the Lord [God] to bruise him; he hath put him to grief….He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities” (Isaiah 52:13; 53:3-5, 10, 11). Again, God says, “my servant.”

• Look closely at how the apostle Peter viewed Jesus, as told in his sermon in Acts chapter three, after the healing of the lame man.

“The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus” (Acts 3:13 NIV; RSV; NEV; Jerusalem Bible; Phillips Translation; Today’s English Version; Holman CSB; Nelson’s NCV; etc.).

“When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to bless you…” (Acts 3:26 NIV; RSV; NEV; Jerusalem Bible; Phillips Translation; Today’s English Version; Holman CSB; Nelson’s NCV; etc.).

• That Jesus is God our Father’s “servant” is seen in the Apostles’ prayer to God in Acts chapter four.

“When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. Sovereign Lord, they said, you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together….to conspire against your holy servant Jesus” (Acts 4:24, 27 NIV; RSV; NEV; Jerusalem Bible; Phillips Translation; Today’s English Version; Holman CSB; Nelson’s NCV; etc.).

• Notice also verse 30:

“…signs and wonders through the name of thy holy servant Jesus” (Acts 4:30 NIV; RSV; NEV; Jerusalem Bible; Phillips Translation; Today’s English Version; Holman CSB; Nelson’s NCV; etc.).

Please note: In the King James translation the words “Son” in Acts 3:13 and 26, and “child” in Acts 4:27 and 30, are both “pais” in the Greek manuscripts, pronounced paheece (Strong’s #3816), and it means “a boy – a child – a slave or servant.” Therefore, every other Bible version I have examined has the word “servant” in these verses. Question. Since God’s word clearly teaches that Jesus is God our Father’s highly exalted “servant,” what spirit is behind this non-biblical effort to make him “God?”

My friend, I trust the above understanding reflects what you believe and teach. If not, you should hasten to adjust your doctrine!