Do not quarrel or cry out ...

Good Monday morning, my friends.

This morning I read the first part of Matthew 12.  Jesus becomes aware of a plot by the Pharisees to kill him, and this is what transpires:

  Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. A large crowd followed him, and he healed all who were ill. He warned them not to tell others about him. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

"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.

A bruised reed he will not break,

   and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out,

till he has brought justice through to victory.

  In his name the nations will put their hope."

Matthew is wonderful at taking Old Testament scripture and showing how it is fulfilled through Jesus. 

There are a number of things in this passage that really draw me.  First is the word "all".  Jesus healed all who were ill.  Not just the important people.  Not just the so-called righteous people.  Not the ones who "had it all together".  He healed anyone who came to Him.  And the quote from Isaiah is quite interesting as well.  "He will not quarrel or cry out."  "A bruised reed he will nnot break."  "A smoldering wick he will not snuff out."  These are words we would do very well to ponder.  In general, we Christians are perhaps too quick to quarrel and argue our case.  We are very defensive.  And we, again generally, tend to be quick to condemn - to break that burised weed.  We were all once (and still are) sinners.  Yet someone else's sin is no worse than ours and we have no standing as a judge over anyone.  Instead we should be holding out our hand to help that person up.  And if they are not yet willing to take that hand, then we need to understand that the Holy Spirit has not finished the prep work there yet, and we just need to lift that person in prayer.

That's my mini-sermon for today. 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Bruce

Bruce MacPherson macpherson@celtic.ca / Blog: The Celtic Christian / Home: 613.489.4174 Cell: 613.720.0821 You are receiving this email because you have requested it or I felt you would be interested in this material. If you would like to be removed from this email list, please do not hesitate to contact me at the above email address. Likewise, if you know of someone else who you believe would appreciate receiving these messages, please let me know.