Proper 19: Old Testament, Isaiah 50:4-10                          

Isaiah 50:4-10

Discipleship is a word tossed about in the Christian community a lot. Funny, it’s one of those “non-existent” Bible words. Nope. You cannot find it in the pages of Scripture.  Now “disciple” is another matter. Jesus uses the word. And his followers are aware that He refers to them as such, and calls them to make more. Never a dull moment when the question arises among Christians, “Just what is a disciple?”

From the Great Commission at the close of Matthew’s gospel we get from the lips of Jesus, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matt. 28:19-20a). Now the assurance of His presence at the close lets us know that we do not make disciples apart from Jesus. That’s for certain. But the gospel gives us baptism in water and hearing the teaching of Jesus’ commands as the marks of what makes a disciple.

All that to say that as part of the “Servant” prophecies in Isaiah we have the servant of Yahweh described as a disciple of sorts. He has been given ears to hear and a tongue to speak what he has heard. And there is a wonderful acknowledgment that it is the LORD who has opened his ears. “I was not rebellious; I turned not backward” (Is. 50:5). It’s the hearing with willingness and as the servant continues, even a willingness to endure hardship for the LORD that confirms he is on the right side and in the right vocation (v. 6).

Hearing the Word of the Lord, obeying the Word of the Lord and trusting the Lord is the final “connector” to tasks and traits. “Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God.” Hearing with faith in the days of Isaiah, the time of Jesus and the days we occupy make disciples for the Master. It is a great life.