What Did Jesus Do?

OPENING PRAYER:

Holy and Mighty God, there is truly none like you in all of creation. How great you are.

READ: MATTHEW 12:15-21

God’s Chosen Servant

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.”[a]

Footnote:

[a] Matthew 12:21 Isaiah 42:1-4

REFLECT:

‘I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it’ (Nelson Mandela). Ask God to make you brave in his service.

The more Jesus exposes the deadness of the Pharisees’ practices, the more they plot against him (v 14). To be fair, they probably expected the awaited Messiah to identify with them, the upholders of the faith. But Jesus was never going to cozy up to powers of his day. Isaiah’s prophecy explains this (vs 18,20). Jesus is a servant with a concern for the broken and needy. How does he show this (v 15)? By healing all in the large crowd who were ill – all!

After the healings, Jesus warns the crowd not to tell others who he is (v 16). Why wouldn’t he want to promote a public ministry? Jesus is operating with different priorities, ones that will ultimately take him to the cross. But if he’s killed before time or the crowd rise up and make him an earthly king, it won’t be according to God’s timeline or his greater vision for the Messiah. So, what has happened here is part of a much bigger picture. He’ll bring ‘justice through to victory’ (v 20) with hope for all nations (v 21). The Son always pleases the Father (v 18; John 8:29).

APPLY:

As Jesus experienced, being God’s servant doesn’t always make you popular! How might you demonstrate God’s kingdom in the way you serve him today?

CLOSING PRAYER:

Lord, as I seek to be your servant, I need your wisdom. I want to always please you and I ask for your guidance. Thank you for hearing my prayer.

WORSHIP:

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