Many followed him (Jesus), and he healed all their sick, warning them not to tell who he was. 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 leads justice to victory. In his name the nations will put their hope.” Matthew 12:15-21
Dear Jesus, I’m greatly moved today as I ponder your compassionate heart for the broken and suffering. Surely, there’s no Savior like you… entering, not running from our chaos… taking, not despising our shame… shouldering, not ignoring our burdens. “Bruised reeds” and “smoldering wicks” love your appearing. Justice will be fully victorious because you have been the willing Sufferer.
For sure… for gloriously sure, your sufferings as our sin-bearer are over. As the Lamb of God, you offered yourself once and for all upon the cross. No additional sacrifice for our sin remains to be offered… none. I no longer dread being judged by God for my sin. Your perfect love has driven away all fear of punishment… all anxiety about Judgment Day… and all uncertainty about eternity. I boast and rest in your sufferings for us, Lord Jesus… and I also shout a hearty, “Hallelujah!” I also cry out, “Help me, Lord Jesus… help me.”
Help me go with you into the sufferings of friends, family… further into the groans of my own heart… deeper into the injustices and brokenness of my community. Like most, I have an aversion to pain and suffering. Like many, I’d love the Christian life to be an antidote for all discomfort and distress. Like some, I get overwhelmed and overtaxed by the sufferings of others.
Indeed, Jesus, here’s my peace… my joy… my strength. You’re not calling us to suffer for you, but to suffer with you, and that makes all the difference in the world. We’re called into the fellowship of your sufferings, not into the isolation of our sufferings.
Jesus, you’ll never lead us into hard places where you’re not present. You’ll never ask us to do anything all by ourselves. You’ll never leave us or forsake us, in the face of daily brokenness or systemic evil. We put our hope in you this very day. So very Amen, we pray, in your compassionate and victorious name.
