THE MEEK SERVANT
Opening Prayer
Lord, continue to bump down my ego when it grows too large.
Read 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.”
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Meditate
“The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools” (Eccl. 9:17).
Think Further
When tensions escalate to a peak, Jesus withdraws to avoid further open confrontation with the Pharisees. Meanwhile, the crowd continues to seek after him as he carries on his healing ministry. However, he warns the crowd not to make him known. This theme of secrecy is mentioned by Matthew earlier (Matt. 8:4; 9:30) but has taken on greater significance in light of the increased hostility from the Pharisees, who now want to kill Jesus(14). By recording Jesus’ withdrawal from open confrontation, Matthew shows that hostility was not an obstacle to Jesus’ ministry but was in fact part of God’s plan, as prophesied in the Old Testament—and he illustrates as much by quoting (18–21) from oneof the Servant Songs in Isaiah (Isa. 42:1–4).
The words from the Servant Song, “Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight,” (18) resemble the words spoken by the voice from heaven at Jesus’ baptism (Matt. 3:17) and again atthe transfiguration (Matt. 17:5). By applying the Servant Song to Jesus, Matthew identifies Jesus as the Lord’s Servant who is meek, accommodating, not quarrelsome and consummately fair. This is how he would accomplish the mission to Israel and the Gentiles. Keeping this bigger vision in mind, Jesus knows when to withdraw from fruitless confrontation.
Conflict and at times confrontation are inevitable in our Christian journey. There are times when we are required to be vocal and speak out, but there are also times to choose the path of peace and non-resistance. The choice we make calls for a determination of whether or not it will accomplish God’s purpose for his kingdom and for us.
Apply
When was the last time you wisely walked away from a religious confrontation? Were you satisfied that you made the right decision?
Closing prayer
Lord, when we are faced with confrontation, grant us to know when to speak out, when to speak gently, and when to be silent and allow You to vindicate us.
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