Now I want to make mention of a couple things this morning before I read the scripture. While it's on my mind this way, I won't forget it. Brother Marvin Stalnaker over in Fairmount, West Virginia was taken to the hospital a couple days ago having recurring symptoms of a stroke. He's doing better, he was in ICU for a while, and he's whole. And let's continue to remember him this morning. This Tuesday, I go for surgery to get this finger fixed. So they're gonna put me out while they're trying to do that, it'll be nice to be able to open a jar again. So, now this is the third finger, I'm gonna run out of fingers. So remember me, if you would. Now, our scripture reading this morning is gonna be found in Isaiah today, Isaiah 61. Isaiah 61, beginning at verse one. Should be very familiar to all of you. The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord hath anointed me to preach the good tidings unto the meek. He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all that mourn, to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified. And they shall build the old wastes, and they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities. The desolations of many generations, And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers. But ye shall be named the priests of the Lord. Men shall call you the ministers of our God. Ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall you boast yourselves. For your shame shall have double, and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore, in the land they shall possess the double everlasting joy shall be unto them. For I, the Lord, love judgment. I hate robbery for burnt offering, and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. Their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people. All that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the Lord hath blessed. And I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, and my soul shall be joyful in my God, for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation. He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness. As a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. For as the Lord bringeth forth her bud, as the earth bringeth forth her bud, excuse me, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all nations, let's pray. Our Father, as we come before you this morning, hallowed be your name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Lord, we come before you this morning to watch over our brethren as they travel and Watch over our brethren that are sick and afflicted wherever they may be. Lord, we asked you this morning that you'd give us strength. Lord, you desire praise from your people. Lord, it's the chief duty of man to give you glory. and whatever we do, we're to do for your glory. May your name be glorified today. Oh, Father, we need your presence. We need your touch. Don't leave us to ourself, but Lord, may the Holy Spirit speak this morning through the word and make it effectual to every heart. In Christ's name we ask, amen. The love of God. The love of God is greater far than tongue or pen can ever tell. It goes beyond the highest star and reaches to the lowest hell. The guilty pair bowed down with care. God gave his son to win. His erring child he reconciled and pardoned from When ancient time shall pass away, and earthly thrones and kingdoms fall, ♪ When those who hear refuse to pray ♪ On rocks and hills and mountains call ♪ God's love so pure shall still endure ♪ All measureless and strong ♪ Grace will resound the whole earth round the saints' and angels' song? Could we with ink the ocean fill? And were the skies a parchment made? Were every star on earth a quill? And every one a scribe by trade? To write the love of God above Would drain the ocean dry Nor could the scroll contain the whole Though spread from sky to sky of God, how rich and pure, how measureless and strong. I shall forevermore endure the saints' and angels' song, the saints' and angels' song. If you have your Bible this morning, turn with me please to Exodus 21. Exodus chapter 21. I need your prayers this morning. I haven't really felt good all week. I've been trying to battle this cold and I think I gave it to Virginia too and she's been sneezing all morning and I've been sneezing all week. I need your prayers this morning, but I'm glad the Lord is our strength. Exodus 21, and I'm gonna read the first six verses. But before I do that, I wanna say some things by way of introduction. There are many today who tell us that the Old Testament scriptures are not to us, but only to the Jews. Now granted, the ceremonial laws, we do not do. They were fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ. But the Apostle Paul told us in Romans 15 in verse four, concerning the Old Testament scriptures, he said, whatsoever things were written aforetime, were written for our learning, that we, through patience and comfort of the scriptures, might have hope. And he not only said that, But he told Timothy in 2 Timothy 3, 16 and 17, he said, all scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable. So how can anyone say that the Old Testament scriptures are not profitable? They're either not very smart or they don't know anything about the gospel. All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, truly furnished unto all good works. But even more than that, as if that's not enough, the Old Testament scriptures speak of a person. They speak of the Lord Jesus Christ. When the Lord was here in the days of his flesh, and he was addressing the Pharisees, John 5, 39 and 40, he said to them, he said, search the scriptures. For in them, you think that you have eternal life. But they, the scriptures, are they, the scriptures, that testify of me. To the seeing eye. To the spiritual seeing eye, Christ is seen in the Old Testament. This book is about Him. Not about rules and regulations. It's not about preachers and prophets. It's about the man, Christ Jesus. The Old Testament scriptures tell us so many things about the Lord, but if I were to sum it up in one statement, I would say this. The Old Testament scriptures display our Lord in three ways, as prophet, priest, and king. Now, veiled in this text this morning, we shall see Christ the servant. And my prayer is the Holy Ghost will let us see the beauty of our Lord Jesus Christ. as a servant. Let's begin reading in verse one of Exodus chapter 21. Now these are the judgments which thou shalt set before them. This is Moses speaking to the children of Israel concerning God's law. If thou by a Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve, and in the seventh, he shall go out free for nothing. If he came in by himself, he shall go out by himself. If he were married, then his wife shall go out with him. If his master hath given him a wife, and she hath borne him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be her masters. and he shall go out by himself. Now verse five and six is where I particularly wanna dwell this morning. And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children, I will not go out free, Then his master shall bring him unto the judges. And he shall also bring him to the door or unto the doorpost. And his master shall bore his ear through with an awl. And he shall serve him forever. The title of the message this morning is Christ the Servant. Christ the Servant. It's interesting when you look at the four Gospels, they all portray the Lord Jesus Christ, but each one has a different theme. Matthew portrays our Lord as king. Luke portrays him as the son of man. John proclaims him as deity. But Mark proclaims Christ as Christ the servant. Jesus said while he was here, he said, the servant isn't greater than his Lord. But he also said in Mark 10 in verse 45, the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister and to give his life. a ransom for many. I want you to notice in verse five, if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master. How beautiful that is. But before I really delve into the depths of this, The scriptures in the Old Testament spoke of the Lord Jesus Christ being a servant. Keep your finger here in Exodus and turn with me to Isaiah 42, if you would. Isaiah chapter 42. Here's what the word of the Lord says. Isaiah 42, one, behold my servant. whom I uphold, mine elect, and whom my soul delighteth. I have put my spirit upon him, and he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break. and the smoking flax he shall not quench. He shall bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail, nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth, and the isles shall wait for his law. And while you're there, just turn over a few pages to Isaiah 49. Isaiah 49, verse five, we find these words. And now saith the Lord that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him. Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God shall be my strength. And he said, it is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved of Israel. I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the ends of the earth. Turn one more page over, Isaiah 50. I want you to see this. Christ the servant, Isaiah 50, verse 10. Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness and hath no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord and stay upon his God. And then a couple pages over in Isaiah 53, we read these words beginning at verse 10. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him. He hath put him to grief. when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin. He shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. 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. Christ being a servant was declared by the prophets in the Old Testament. With that being said, with this being prophesied in the Old Testament, let's go back to our text in Exodus 21. And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master. Now I want you to notice the wording of this verse. I want you to notice how the Holy Spirit has placed these words. If the servant says, I love my master, I love my wife, I love my children, notice He loves his master first. He loves his master first. When we think about our Lord and what he did and when he came to this world, if we were to ask ourself this question, why did he come? I imagine that The majority of us, and probably myself, would say, well, he came to die for sinners, and we would be correct in saying that. But I submit to you that the chief reason the Lord Jesus Christ came was for the glory of his Father. Now in that purpose of glorifying His Father, we do find the salvation of sinners. But the chief objective of the Lord Jesus Christ while He was here, was to glorify his father. I won't ask you to turn to it, but I'm sure you're familiar with it. In the second chapter of Luke, when our Lord was only 12 years old, the very first recorded words of his. And the setting for this is they had been to Jerusalem and they had took Jesus with them. They were returning from Jerusalem. The scripture says they went a day's journey and found out that he wasn't there. They sought amongst their kindred and they couldn't find him. And so they went back to Jerusalem to look for him and it took two more days and they finally found him. And Mary says to him, why did you do this? Don't you know that I and thy father have sought you sorrowing? And Jesus said this, how is it that you sought me? Wist ye not that I would be about my father's business? Even then, his chief objective, Norris, was to glorify the Father. Turn with me to John chapter 10. Excuse me, John chapter 6. My bifocals don't want to focus this morning. John chapter 6 and verse 38, he declares this. For I came down from heaven not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will, which he hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me, I should lose nothing. but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me that everyone which seeth the Son and believeth on him may have everlasting life. And I will raise him up at the last day. Christ shown here as a servant. When we think of the eternal, everlasting covenant which the prophets prophesied would come to pass in time, but which was made before the foundation of the world. The Lord Jesus Christ said this in his high priestly prayer to his father. Father, the hour is come. The cross lay just ahead. Father, the hour is come. Glorify thy Son, that thy Son may glorify thee. And in the garden of Gethsemane in Luke chapter 22 and verse 42, we find our blessed Lord in agony. Scripture tells us that his soul was exceedingly sorrowful unto death. While he called on his father, he said, Father, if it could be your will, let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, not as I will, but thy will be done. He came to do the will of his Father. And to this, the Apostle Paul attested to in Philippians chapter two and verse five, when he said, let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God. made himself of no reputation, but took upon himself the form of a servant, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. His chief objective was to glorify God. The scripture tells you and I that whatever we do, to do all for the glory of God. The chief objective of man is to give God the glory. And oh, how he is robbed of his glory today. Secondly, I want you to notice here in verse five. I love my master and I love my wife and children. When I first read this, I thought of what Paul said to the church at Ephesus in Ephesians chapter five and verse 25. Husbands, love your wives even as Christ. loved the church and gave himself for it. The love of God, as we heard the song this morning, it's an eternal love. It's an everlasting love. The love of God cannot be measured. John chapter 13 in verse one, John said, referring to our Lord, having loved his own in the world, he loved them to the end. The prophet Jeremiah said this, one of the verses I love, Jeremiah 31 in verse three, yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love. Therefore with loving kindness, I have drawn thee. Can you and I fathom that? Can we get a hold of that? Do you know that we were conquered by His love? That's right. You know, the Armenians say, well, we don't believe in invincible grace or irresistible grace, that we just don't believe that God grabs people by the hair of the head and drags them to the altar. Well, He don't. He never has. He conquers them with his love. I have loved thee with an everlasting love. Therefore, with loving kindness, I have drawn thee. Philemon is sober with his love. His love. Oh, what wondrous love. That's what it means in Psalm 110.3 when it says, thy people shall be willing in the day of that power. And when that day comes, when that day comes, and it will come whenever the providence of God says it is to come. When that day comes, you'll be won by his love. That's why Paul said in Romans two and verse four, it is the goodness of God that leadeth thee to repentance. Yes, the goodness of God. What wondrous, wondrous love. Turn with me to Genesis 28. and we'll see a picture of wonderful love. Genesis chapter 28, and I believe it's verse 18. The scripture says this. Now this is concerning Jacob, and he loves Rachel. We're about to see how much He loved Rachel. Look at verse 18. And Jacob loved Rachel and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel, thy younger daughter. Laban said, it is better that I give her to thee that I should give her unto another man. Abide with me. Now look at verse 20. And Jacob served seven years for Rachel. And they seemed unto him but a few days for the love he had to her. I'm sure every woman in this world would love to find a man like that, amen. Look at wondrous love. And how much greater is the love of Christ? How much greater is the love of God? It's an everlasting love. It's a fathomless love. Too high to measure above. Too low to measure downward. who can measure its width. Then I want you to notice verse six, excuse me, verse five, last clause. And the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife and my children. I will not go out. Now that's great love. That's great love. The Lord Jesus Christ, when he came into this world, he came on a mission. The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which is lost. That was his purpose, and he did just that. He was successful. He not only sought them, but he saved them by his grace. Back in those times in Bible times, a servant had to serve six years, but the seventh year, he went free, had his freedom. His debt was paid. He's a free man. But the servant here says, I love my master. I love my wife. I love my children. I will not go out free. That's wonderful love. all the love of God that He had to us. You know why we love Him this morning? Because He loved us first. 1 John 4, 19, we love Him because He first loved us. And when I think about that, George, I think to myself, He loved me when I was unlovable. He loved me while I was without strength. He loved me when I was ungodly. He loved me, a sinner, a lawbreaker, who blasphemed everything high and holy. And those wonderful words that Paul wrote to the Romans, even while we were without strength in due time, Christ died for the ungodly. That's what John 3.16 means. For God so loved, so loved, the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. There's an old, old, old song written centuries ago. called What Wondrous Love Is This. What wondrous love is this, oh my soul, oh my soul. When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down. When I was sinking down beneath God's righteous frown. Christ laid aside his crown for my soul, for my soul. Christ laid aside his crown for my soul. No one's ever loved you like that. Your mother on her best day could never love you like that. Nor has no one ever loved me like that. No one's ever loved me like that. And oh, when I think of how unworthy I am. I didn't deserve one drop of his blood. I didn't deserve one drop of his mercy. Should have been sent to hell. But he loved me, Phil, he loved me. I can't explain it. I can't fathom it. But oh, how I rejoice in it that he loved me. Then, quickly, let's look in verse six. When the servant says, I ain't leaving, I love my master, I love my wife, and I love my children. Something legal has to be done. Look in verse six. Then his master shall bring him unto the judges. He shall also bring him to the door or under the doorpost. and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl, and he shall serve him forever. Now, in case there is any doubt about this being a beautiful type of the Lord Jesus Christ, turn with me to Psalm 40. This Messianic Psalm, Psalm 40, verse six, where David says, sacrifice an offering thou didst not desire. Mine ears hast thou, excuse me, opened. And this word opened in the Hebrew means digged or bore. Mine ears hast thou opened. Burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. Then said I, lo, I come. In the volume of the book, it is written of me. I delight to do thy will, O my God. Yea, thy law is within my heart. And the writer of Hebrews confirms this. If you'll turn with me to Hebrews 10, I want you to see it. Hebrews chapter 10, verse five. Wherefore, when he cometh into the world, he saith, sacrifice an offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me. in burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin, thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, lo, I come in the volume of the book. It is written of me to do thy will, O God. Can you see it? Can you see it? Yes. The Lord Jesus Christ, and then, It says here that this servant is going to serve his master forever, forever. That's a long time. Now, wherever you find Christ the servant, wherever you find him, You know what you're gonna find with him? His people. Wherever you find the lamb, you'll find his people. Revelation chapter five, you don't have to turn to it. I'll turn to it and I'll read it to you. Revelation chapter five, verse nine, we find these words. And they sung a new song, saying thou art worthy to take the book and to open the seals thereof. For thou was slain and has redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation. Look at the verse above it. When he had taken the book, the four beasts and the four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps and golden vows full of orders, which are as the prayers of the saints. Where you find the Lamb, you find His people. The Lord Jesus said something to his disciples before he ascended back to heaven, Matthew 28. When Matthew closed out his gospel, he said, lo, I am with you all the way, even to the end of the world. Then I wanna end with this. He is still, Christ the servant, in a sense, to his people. He's with us in his mediation. First Timothy one and verse five, for there is one God and one mediator between God and man, the man, Christ Jesus. Aren't you glad he's your mediator? He's there in the presence of God for us, taking care of us. Not only is he with us in mediation, he's with us as our high priest. Turn to Hebrews 4. Hebrews chapter 4. You know, when the Lord saved us, he didn't throw down a Bible from heaven and say, do the best you can, I hope you make it. We not only need a mediator, but we need a high priest. In Hebrews chapter four, verse 14, seeing then that we have a great high priest that is passed into the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are. yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly under the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. He's not only there as our mediator and our high priest, but he's also our legal representative. He's our advocate. First John 2.1, Little children, I write these things unto you that you sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate, Jesus Christ, the righteous. When the devil accuses me and you and all of God's people, I got someone up there that knows the law. I got somebody up there that not only knows the law, but says, I paid it for him. What a blessing. Yes. And then that wonderful chapter, the eighth chapter of Romans, where so many wonderful and beautiful things are said about the people of God. In Romans 8 and verse 26, we find these words. He's not only with us in mediation as our high priest, as our advocate, but he's with us in the presence of the Holy Spirit. Romans 8 and verse 26, I wanna turn to it. How blessed this is. Likewise, the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities, for we know not what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Earlier in verse 16, Paul said, the Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. Christ the servant. May the Lord give us eyes to see how beautiful this is. Our Father, As we come before you, Lord, we thank you for your word, how precious it is. May you receive glory today. Take the message and make it affectional to every heart. Go with us now as we leave this place. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.