CHOSEN OF GOD

Though election can be a subject of intense controversy, today’s title should draw us close to our Lord’s heart. Consider the Lord Jesus as the Chosen One in three aspects in scripture.

In Isaiah chapter 42 verse 1 we see the Lord as the Elect Servant in His life. Though in the form of God and thus equal with God in nature, He assumed a servant’s nature, Phil. 2. 6-7. The one who is the mighty God learned obedience, Isa. 9.6; Heb. 5. 8. God has called many in scripture ‘My servant’, but among them there was no perfect servant. Abraham, Gen. 26. 24, lied regarding his wife; Moses, Num. 12. 7, erupted in anger and smote the rock; Job, Job 2. 3, tried to say too much in his own defence to God, Job 40. 2. But in Christ’s life we see the Perfect Servant in whom Jehovah delighted, chosen and choice for His faithfulness, Isa. 3-4, and His gentle strength, vv. 2-3. In general, He was not a shouter, v. 2, and did not stamp down on the weak and broken, v. 3. Unlike worldly revolutions seeking justice, which usually rely on force, Christ changes people through gentleness - the heart of a servant.

In today’s passage, we see the Lord as the Elect Son in the context of His death. Throughout His life, especially in His trial, and climaxing in His death, the Jewish leaders showed their disgust at His claim to be the Son of God, God’s beloved. Hanging crucified, He did not abandon His claim, praying to His Father for His crucifiers’ forgiveness, v. 34. Thus the rulers sneeringly taunt Him to show the power of such closeness to God, and escape the cross. After all, for them it was inconceivable that the chosen of God be crucified, accursed. As we ponder, it surely must be incredible to us as well - what He was chosen for, the elect and beloved Son suffering on a cruel cross! It is the marvel of love that brought our salvation.

In 1 Peter chapter 2 verse 6 Jesus is the Elect Stone relative to His resurrection. The Jewish builders, who should have built for God, failed to discern in Christ the sum of God’s thoughts, the climax of His revelation, the foundation of His church. They put Him to death. But God raised Him and showed this ‘disallowed stone’ to be the chief and precious stone of His choosing.