ISA 55:4-5 Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.

5 Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the LORD thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee.

>>The prophet speaks in a prophetic way of that which the Lord Jesus Christ spoke in JOH 3:16. "Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people,"

JOH 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

>>This word "witness" in our text comes from the root word "uwd (ood)" in the Hebrew which means "to duplicate or repeat—by implication to protest, to testify by reiteration—to restore as a sort of reduplication."

>>Christ was a "reduplication" or a redoing of what we read in GEN 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

>>In our human nature—as God created Adam in a state of innocence—the Lord Jesus Christ was a perfect image of God the Father.

HEB 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:

>>As the express image of His Father—the Lord Jesus Christ revealed the true Character of the Father—as a "witness—or duplicate or repeat" of the Father in His Divine nature—as well as of man in his state of innocence in His human nature.

JOH 10:28-29 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

30 I and my Father are one.

>>As the Father's "duplicate or repeat," the Father sent the Lord Jesus Christ in our human nature to bear witness unto fallen man of His true Character.

HEB 1:1-3 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:

>>In our text the Lord speaks of—or about the kingdom of authority He has given unto His Son.

ISA 55:4 Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.

>>In the following verse the Lord speaks as unto the Lord Jesus Christ in Person saying

ISA 55:5 Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the LORD thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee.

>>This calling of the gentiles unto salvation is the mystery spoken of in COL 1:25-27 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God;

26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:

27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

>>The Father has glorified His Son in so many ways—not only in His "reduplication" in His dear bride, "...which is Christ in you, the hope of glory," but also in the Kingly authority wherewith the Father has exalted Him— Our text says, ISA 55:4-5 Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.

>>The Father has glorified His Son by His ordination to be Head over all things to His church.

COL 1:15-19 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

>>This glorification of His Son was also extended unto His ordination as the Judge of all righteousness.

ACT 17:31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

>>There is a glorious ordaining of the Son of God—but He is also glorified by the ordaining of His own bride—appointing them a place in union with Himself.

ACT 13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

>>Look at the glorious position unto which the Father rewarded our Saviour for His condescension in giving Himself unto such humble obedience—Our text says, ISA 55:4-5 Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.

>>The Lord Jesus was glorified as the Headship of all authority

MAT 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

>>This power, or authority is also manifest in the gift of grace—unto salvation which we receive through the Lord Jesus Christ.

1PE 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

>>The slightest Divine influence upon the Heart—which reveals itself in the life—is only obtained through the fulness of His grace—"by Christ Jesus."

EPH 2:5-6 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

>>Our text says, ISA 55:4-5 Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.

>>This authority or Lordship is not shared with any man—no, not even with the Apostolic church— The Apostle Peter said:

1PE 5:1-3 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

>>This word "lords" comes from the root word "kurios (koo'-ree-os) in the Greek which means, "to lord against—to dominate, to sit as supreme in authority—i.e., as controller or lord—a title belonging unto Jehovah, Jesus Christ."

>>The Amplified Bible translates 1PE 5:3 to say, "Not (as arrogant, dictatorial and overbearing persons) domineering over those in your charge, but being examples—patterns and models of Christian living."

>>It is the Father Himself who has glorified the Son with such authority as His reward for His condescending—humble obedience unto the Father— Therefore this glory will not be shared with any man—not even with and being in the realms of bliss

PHI 2:9-11 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

>>This is the reward which we read of in HEB 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

>>For His faithfulness in giving Himself a ransom for His church the Father's reward is COL 1:18-19 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

>>Every grace implanted in our soul by the Holy Spirit flows from this fulness which is found alone in our blessed Lord and Saviour—the Lord Jesus Christ.

JOH 1:16-17 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

>>The law that was given by Moses had no provisions for mercy—but by our Saviour's perfect satisfaction of that law

MAT 5:17-18 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.

18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

>>It was though Jesus' lifetime of perfect satisfaction to the perfect law of God—that mercy came by Jesus Christ.

HEB 4:15-16 For we have not an 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.

16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

>>Our text says, "...He hath glorified thee," as our Saviour approached the cross—having completed the work the Father gave Him to do—our Saviour could say, JOH 17:4-5 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

>>WE need to ever remember that our text says, "Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people," i.e., "to restore as a sort of reduplication," or example for His church.

>>He was glorified in His acceptance of the covenant bond—and in His performance of His Father's will— If we have not the Spirit of Christ we are none of His, and He said

HEB 10:7-9 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.

8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;

9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first [the daily sacrifices], that he may establish the second [obedience to His perfect will].

>>All those who went before the atonement of Christ entered heaven upon our Saviour's covenant bond— i.e., "Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.

>>Now we are constrained by the love of Christ to do the will—i.e., the pleasure of our Lord Jesus Christ and obeyed His commandment of love.

JOH 15:12-16 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

>>We must never forget the authority wherewith our Saviour speaks— Our text says, ISA 55:4-5 Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.

>>Our love for Him can only be measured by the degree in which we are restored as a sort of reduplication of the image of Christ

1JO 2:4-6 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.