It is primarily in a person, coming into the world as a servant, that a light would be for the nations.

One of the themes of the book of Isaiah is that of God’s people as a Servant Nation. God’s promise was to bless the world though the nation of Israel. Here the prophet speaks of Israel not as a nation but as a person still to come … the Lord Jesus. Everywhere that God’s OT people failed, Jesus, the true Israel, the Servant, would succeed.

In this passage we find the true Servant and what He would come to do. It is the Servant’s intimate relationship with his Father which will demand that people listen. We also learn that whilst the Servant’s ministry will be powerful, it will also be difficult. He spoke of their need to believe in him but most walked away.

His reward is not here on earth but it is with his God. We learn that whilst the Servant’s ministry begins with Israel he will also be a light for the Gentiles and so will the church … it is for all peoples. The Servant’s message and splendor would come through the cross.