Would it shock you to know that the Messiah Jesus experienced the feeling of having accomplished little?
In Isaiah 49:4 we read these words: “I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and in vain….”
Note that these are not the words of Isaiah, who was called by Yehovah at a mature age. No, they are the Messiah's own words, spoken by one “called…from the womb; from the bowels of my mother… now says Yehovah that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, so that Israel is gathered to Him” (Isaiah 49:1, 5).
When I come upon this passage, I am incredulous. I can hardly believe what I am reading. Jesus’ words here about “laboring in vain” were a response to the Father who had just declared, “You are my servant … in whom I will be glorified” (Isaiah 49:3). We read Jesus’ surprising response in the next verse: “I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity - empty, worthless” (Isaiah 49:4).
Reading those words has made me love Jesus all the more. I realize Hebrews 4:15 is not just a cliché: we have not a high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but one that has been in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Our savior is truly touched with the feelings of our infirmities and was tempted in all ways as we are, yet without sin. He’d known this very temptation from Satan, hearing the same accusing voice: “Your mission has not been accomplished. Your life has been a failure. You’ve got nothing to show for all your labors.”
The Messiah Jesus came into the world to fulfill the will of God by reviving Israel, and he did just as he was commanded. But Israel rejected him: “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him” (John 1:11).
Why would Jesus, or any man or woman of God, speak such despairing words as these: “I have labored in vain”? How could the son of God make such a statement? And why have generations of faithful believers been reduced to such despondent words? It is all the result of measuring little results against high expectations.
The truth is, we’re all called to one grand, common purpose, and to one ministry. Our ministry as members of the Israel of Yehovah is to bear witness and testimony to the coming Kingdom of God that Jesus preached continuously. We are called to live out our lives walking as Jesus walked and doing as he did on this earth. He said he was the way, the truth, the life, the light, and the wisdom of Yehovah. By the power of his indwelling presence in us, we can be the same to all those we come in contact with. In this way, we can progressively grow into his likeness and be changed into his express image.
Jesus was the outshining of Yehovah in his life and we are to strive to be the same in our lives. How? by keeping the creed of Jesus [Mark 12:28-34] which is to love Yehovah will all our being and love our neighbors as ourselves. In doing this we glorify the name of Yehovah and pull the people who accept our testimony out of the fire of the second death! What an awesome privilege and responsibility our God and Father Yehovah has given to each of us. He gives us the power to do what He desires and then rewards us for doing so. Truly, it is all of Him and nothing of us.
At the end of our lives, we may not think we have done much as a witness to others, but Yehovah knows how many lives we have touched as we have walked according to His will in our lives! In the same way, we don't know how many times Yehovah has intervened in our lives to protect us, guide us, and bring us to where we are today. He reached out to us in love as we can do with all those we come in contact with in our lives. Let us hold fast to what we have and share it with others!
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