(As per request, here is my message for today. If you like seeing it posted, let me know)
Matthew 12:15-21
15 Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. A large crowd followed him, and he healed all who were ill. 16 He warned them not to tell others about him. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
18 “Here is my servant whom I have chosen,
the one I love, in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,
and he will proclaim justice to the nations.
19 He will not quarrel or cry out;
no one will hear his voice in the streets.
20 A bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out,
till he has brought justice through to victory.
21 In his name the nations will put their hope.”
There is an old technique used for training people in being observant. The instructor is talking when suddenly an individual rushes into the room and waves something in the air while shouting something out loud and then vanishes back the way they came. It all happens in a matter of seconds.
The instructor then asks people to answer questions. What did the intruder look like and what was he or she wearing? What did the intruder do or say? Was the intruder a man or a woman?
Amazingly, the probability of the class agreeing on those questions is very unlikely. In fact, they are more likely to differ on every point. 73% will not be able to come to any consensus. Why? The reason is as simple as perspective. If I am very close, I see it one way. If I am farther away, I see it differently.
Jesus had been lighting up the land with His healings and miracles. He was also raising attention for what He was saying, especially since His last visit to Jerusalem. He had not only challenged the rule and power of the Jewish authorities, but He had also claimed power over the very law itself.
When we last left Jesus, the Jewish authorities had joined forces with the hated Herodians who ruled the land for Rome. Bitter enemies, they now agreed that Jesus had to be stopped one way or another. So, the decision was made to use the law to assassinate Him and any who posed a problem.
What do you do when you realize that the powers that be are plotting your death? What do you do when their plots might sweep up those who are close to you? Today, we will discover how God had planned to deal with those who opposed Him and wish us harm?
Invocation:
Gracious God, we come before you today with open and seeking hearts. As we explore Jesus’s ministry and consider how he fulfilled the prophecies of Isaiah, open our eyes to understand more of who you are and who you call us to be. Guide us by your Spirit to hear your word and respond faithfully. We ask this in Christ’s name. Amen.
Today, if you have your scriptures, I will be approaching our message on a verse-by-verse basis. The reason is not exegesis but chronology. Much of what we do in this life is based on timing. I pay my bills at a certain time. I see my doctor on a certain schedule. That chronology is a matter of timing to me. I pay my bills when I have the money set aside. I see my doctor on a regular basis, so I don’t show up only when I am sick.
In these few verses, Jesus is making decisions based on timing, His timing. He has so much work that He has to do, and He knows when He needs it done. As we walk through these verses, you’ll see God’s timing through and through.
Verse 15: “Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place.“
For a moment, let’s talk about perspective. Jesus knew that the Judeans had joined forces with the Herodians and were plotting against Him. We do not know how aware His disciples were of these plots but from their perspective, things couldn’t be going better. Their Master was drawing massive crowds, and it was almost impossible to escape them.
From their perspective, Jesus was constantly moving to escape the crowds, but they didn’t always agree with that decision. Some of them felt this was the time to act and take a stand. Their numbers were huge, and people were so moved that they were willing to make Jesus their King and overthrow their enemies. All it would take was a word from Jesus.
How aware are you of the world around you? We live in a time when you worry a little about being in a large crowd or city. People are so divided, and things are so crazy that we don’t know what people are going to do next.
But there is another awareness that Jesus would require of us. Are we aware of our influence for Him and the people who are being touched by what we do and say? Do we notice those around us who are suffering or are in need.
Do we sense when we need to say something for our Lord or when we would do better to say nothing at all? Jesus was constantly aware of the world around Him and He requires the same of us.
Verse 16: “Many followed him, and he healed all their sick.“
Jesus is now traveling from village to village. He was going to those who could not come to Him. His pace was furious, and the disciples were beginning to feel the wear and tear. When they were back in Capernaum, it was much easier for them. They were at their home base and could rest with family and friends. But Jesus is determined to go out to the masses.
And Jesus turns away no one. As long as there is a soul who needs healing, Jesus responds. No disease, injury or possession escapes Him. As one commentator put it, physicians and healers were being put out of business.
Day after day miracles and healings had taken a toll on the disciples but they were learning something about their master. He was driven by one thing. Compassion. They could see the empathy in His eyes and hear the mercy in His voice. It was as if Jesus knew the personal pain of each person He healed. It was almost like He was taking their pain onto Himself.
Soon people came to Him not just for healing but for the opportunity to meet Him, speak with Him and touch Him. They simply could not get enough of Him or speak enough about Him.
I give thanks that among the words used to describe our family of faith, compassion is one of them. From the steady inflow of prayer requests to your anonymous help to those in need, you are living out the ministry of Christ and I assure you that your Lord is pleased with your heart.
Verse 17: “He warned them not to tell others about him.“
What Jesus does next catches them off guard. The disciples and the people are elated and praising God for what He is doing. They wanted to do more but Jesus warned them to be careful of how often and to who they would speak of Him. Jesus knew His day of reckoning was coming and those who were plotting His death were taking names.
He didn’t want to stifle their excitement, but He didn’t want them caught up in what He knew would take place. He had personally seen what revolution could cause when He was a young boy. Five thousand had been crucified along the roads for an uprising and Jesus had watched them suffer and die. He didn’t want the innocent to suffer for what He had come to do.
Soon enough, He would declare His Messiahship. Soon enough, He would set the wheels in motion for His final sacrifice. But this was not that time. People were just beginning to hear His message. He had things to say and lessons to teach so the people would know what to do with the change He was about to bring to their world.
Sometimes the hardest thing for you and me to do is to wait and the reason is simple. We see ourselves as problem solvers and we just want to get things done. But what we forget is that waiting is not a time of inactivity but a time for preparation and personal change.
Every child understands what a cocoon is. The caterpillar that went in will not come out the same. It will come out what it was designed to become: a butterfly.
We are no different. The times of life that require our patience and waiting are there for a reason.
Remember the words of the prophet Isaiah 40:31: “But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
Waiting on the Lord to fulfill His part results in the renewal of our spiritual strength. Found in that patient faith is a strength that will keep us strong when others grow weary and keep us growing when others faint away.
It is in our waiting, God often shapes our character, deepens our faith, and aligns our desires with His will. Jesus knew that neither His disciples nor the people were ready for His sacrifice yet. To have moved too early would have left their faith short of what it needed to be.
Verse 18: “This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah.“
It is Matthew who invokes the authority of Isaiah to explain Jesus’ actions and demonstrate Jesus’ fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and His divine mission. For you and I as New Testament Christians, this fulfillment doesn’t carry the power of what it did for those first Christians who were Jewish.
We have had 2 millennia to become accustomed to the mission of Christ but for those first believers this was the greatest leap of faith. Jesus was challenging the very religious world they lived in. If what He was saying was true, the end of temple worship was in the works. The way they had been living as a people for thousands of years was about to change.
So, the power of the Old Testament prophecies was their revelation that what was occurring had been planned by God eons before. If Jesus was indeed the one spoken of in the scriptures as the Messiah, then what was occurring was not against God’s will but a fulfillment of His divine plan.
Our temptation in this crazy world we are living in just now is to believe that we have fallen out of favor with God’s will, and this is His punishment. But what happens when we read from His scriptures is that such times of these are not just possible but can be a demonstration of His will. What is happening today is not accidental.
Here is the prophecy Matthew is referring to:
Verses 19-20: “‘Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets.‘”
Oh, how they loved those first words like ‘the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him’. They needed such a deliverer. They wanted that Messiah who was filled with the Spirit of God Almighty and was going to bring justice to their nation and their streets.
But what they weren’t ready for was Him being called a servant; one who would not quarrel, and that no one would hear Him shouting in the streets.
They remembered the voice of John the Baptist and how he had called out those in power for their corruption and wickedness. They loved his power and force. But this was not John the Baptist. They could not come to terms with their Messiah having a peaceful demeanor who would not raise a ruckus in the streets.
We aren’t that much different. We look to our society and would love for God to reign down some judgment on this world like He did Sodom and Gomorrah. We would like to see some people put in their places but that is not what God is promising.
Jesus was not to be contrasted to the earthly rulers and kings. They often resorted to quarrelling and shouting. Sounds a lot like our streets and halls of government. Jesus was going to accomplish what He came to do, and it wasn’t going to be through violence.
In fact, Jesus was going to be completely different than what they anticipated. Oh, He would fulfill His mission and in time, He would stand in judgment of all mankind but there was work to be done first. Vengeance could wait. There was a better work to be done.
Verse 21: “A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he has brought justice through to victory.“
I remember when I was in training for ministry that a professor explained to us that there would be times that the measure of our character would be taken. We were ready for that. We were idealists and ready to take on the world for Christ.
But then he explained the measure that would be taken, and it was humbling. He told us that one day when we didn’t expect it, someone was going to ask us to do some menial chore like washing dishes or taking out the trash and we would find ourselves offended.
We were ministers! We had studied for years and were going out to do great things for God!
Then, he said, you will find out if you have the heart of Jesus, a servant’s heart. A servant doesn’t get offended, a servant doesn’t think highly of himself, and a servant is glad to serve.
Perhaps that is the greatest challenge of our scripture today. We tend to forget the gentle and compassionate nature of our Savior. His first thought was for the weakest and the most vulnerable.
He had come to pay a price for them so that they might be freed from the penalty of sin. There was no way He was going to do anything to add trouble to their lives and bring pain to their families.
How many times in the next two years were the disciples going to have to be reminded of this? There would be times they wanted fire to reign down on sinners, but Jesus would show mercy not judgment and grace not anger.
What they would learn and what we need to learn is that you cannot separate the mission and identity of Christ. The world may well be headed to heck in a handbasket but that isn’t our primary concern. Like Jesus, we are to be a source of healing, service, and gentleness in a hard and cruel world.
Jesus will one day judge this world and His judgment will be just but until that day there are souls to save, hearts to mend and lives to be lifted.
Consider what that last prophetic verse says about Jesus and us.
The “bruised reed” represents a person who is spiritually wounded, broken, or fragile. It signifies those who are burdened by sin, suffering, or despair. We all have been there.
But the bruised reed “He will not break” emphasizes the compassionate and gentle nature of Jesus.
Does that describe us? Do we show the same spirit to those around us who are spiritually broken? Is there any mercy left in us for those who are so confused? If that isn’t enough for you, consider the next statement.
“A smoldering wick” symbolizes someone whose faith or spiritual zeal may be weak, flickering, or almost extinguished. It represents individuals who may be struggling in their walk of faith.
Similar to the first part, “He will not snuff out” underscores Jesus’ tender care. He doesn’t extinguish the little faith or hope that remains in a person. Instead, He fans it into a flame, nurturing and revitalizing their spiritual life.
Wouldn’t that be the best vision of our work on this earth as a church? We are looking for those who still have a spark of spiritual life left in them. All we want to do is fan that ember of faith into a fire. We are not in the business of putting those flames out for any reason.
Jesus came to fulfill God’s plan of ultimate victory over sin and death but also over all forms of brokenness that haunt men and He would do it the greatest act of love.
So, what if this week you and I began to look for those smoldering wicks around us. For those people just about to give up and breathe a little life into them with a kind word or a helping hand.
Oh, I know that it will take time, and we will have to be patient. I know that we want to do great things for God, but He will be asking us to do small things, servant things. I know that we want the victory, we want to crush the sin and death around us but what if we leave that in His hands and just love those He puts in our path and show a little kindness.
It’s all a matter of perspective and timing. His perspective and His timing.
Benediction
Compassionate God, as we conclude our time together, send us out with renewed commitment to the way of Christ – reaching out in compassion to the marginalized and bruised, offering hope to the struggling, and living gently in a harsh world. By the power of your Spirit, shape us into people who uphold justice without crushing the weak. Grant us courage and conviction as we seek to follow the example of Jesus. We go in peace to love and serve you. Amen.