Jesus introduced to us a taste of what His New Kingdom was to be like. The world was awaiting a Messiah – a King who would save everyone. Jesus came in the most unexpected manner – demonstrating what His new Kingdom would be like.
Overview
Bible passages: Matt 12.15-21; Isa 42:1-4
- The King’s Regime
- Radiating love as a regular person
- Revitalizing the weak
- Retaliating by Grace and healing
- Discussion
Bible Passage
Matt 12.15-21; Isa 42:1-4 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.
Bible Passage (Cont'd)
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.”
The King’s Regime
Reading this passage, one pictures the Messiah as a King ruling His people in justice. This picture is common in many of the Old Testament prophesies of Jesus.
No one could ever imagine that He would indeed appear as an integral part of the common person of Israel.
Qualities of Christ the king
God’s servant
Chosen by God
God loves and delights in him
He will proclaim justice
Will not quarrel, cry out, speak in street, break a bruised reed, snuff out a smouldering wick
Justice will lead to victory
Nations will hope in His name.
The King’s Regime
How did Jesus proclaim justice?
By healing others, He demonstrates that God’s justice has been satisfied as he has taken on our sickness through His suffering.
By teaching he is heralding the new kingdom and His values
By reaching out to many he is leading us on to the future hope of a perfect kingdom and life.
He is gentle… when the weak and suffering came, he gave them love and hope *bruised reeds and smouldering wicks”
- In the preceding passage He heals the man with a withered hand – who’s hand (according to history) was cut off by religious leaders as were many others for building the synagogue on sabbath days as per Herod’s instructions.
The King’s Regime
The new order heralded. Jesus demonstrated justice by:
- Radiating love as a regular person
- Revitalizing the weak
- Retaliating by Grace and healing – He only used His power to heal and help others, never for Himself.
The servant king – This was Jesus when He first came, to die for us.
This will be Jesus when He rules the nations after His second coming.
As children of the kingdom, He is delighted to see us do just the same – Radiate love, revitalize the weak and retaliate by grace. We can only do that when we have him living in us, enabling us to desire what he desires – to aspire to be what He is.
Radiating love as a regular person
Matthew 12:15-18 Christ’s justice was the justice God demanded – his innocent blood for the sinful people in the world – past, present and future.
The justice that brings on righteousness.
The justice that will gradually and eventually remove sorrow, suffering, sin and death for the world.
We seek justice and fair treatment. That is rare in the world and hard won.
God’s justice is a permanent solution – a solution that removes sin.
How to find justice today
Today, battered by injustice all around, we can only trust Jesus.
He has promised that every twisted plot against us will turn out for good.
He helps us to bring healing and justice to those who are hurting us as He brought healing and justice to us by getting sorely afflicted for us.
Revitalizing the weak
Matthew 12:19, 20
The standout quality of the king was his character – pure and unstained. In today’s world, leaders need to be politicians – playing to the strong, ignoring the weak.
Jesus was just the opposite.
Revitalizing the weak
He ruled by love and graciousness.
He brought justice by being tough with the hard and gentle with the weak.
He “rules nations with a rod of iron” – Rev. 2:27. Whereas the broken weed will be strengthened and healed.
Those aligning with him will be on the strong side
Retaliating by Grace and healing
Matthew 12:20b, 21
When hurt we retaliate in different ways. We’ve seen
- Limited
- Unlimited
- No..
Retaliation.
Jesus introduced a new kind. Replaced retaliation. Retaliation replace by love, grace and healing.
Retaliating by Grace and healing
Retaliation by grace brings healing not only to the receiver but also to the giver.
It is always win-win
We are always victors in Christ – never losers.
Discussion
1.When have you felt deprived of justice? How does this passage reassure you?
2.How can we retaliate by grace – even in our heart getting rid of anger and bitterness.
3.Who are the weak today – physically and spiritually? How can we help them.