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f) The Healing of the Withered Hand on the Sabbath and the Plot to Kill Jesus (Matthew 12:9-21)

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MATTHEW 12:14-21
14 But the Pharisees went out, and conspired against him, how they might destroy him. 15 Jesus, perceiving that, withdrew from there. Great multitudes followed him; and he healed them all, 16 and commanded them that they should not make him known: 17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying, 18 “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen; my beloved in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my Spirit on him. He will proclaim justice to the nations. 19 He will not strive, nor shout; neither will anyone hear his voice in the streets. 20 He won’t break a bruised reed. He won’t quench a smoking flax, until he leads justice to victory. 21 In his name, the nations will hope.” (Isaiah 42:1-4, Mark 3:12, Luke 6:17-19, Acts 3:13-26)

The teachers of the Law sentenced Christ to death because He proved that the act of mercy dominated and exposed their errors in understanding the Scriptures. They felt as if heaven were breaking into their limited realm. They were unable to fight with reasonable judgment, so they had to resort to violence. God’s enemies, from the beginning of Jesus’ work, rejected Him and decided to destroy Him.

Christ’s withdrawal was not from fear of death, but because He still had great works to do and His hour had not yet come. Since that time, Christ was persecuted and lived isolated. He served alone with as little noise as possible. He healed, with His powerful word, the sick who came to Him through faith trusting His power as the merciful Savior. He would not make propaganda for Himself, for He requested those who had been healed not to mention His name. He did this to prevent merely curious people from rushing out to see the miracles and believe without opening their hearts to repentance and understanding Him. Jesus called those who hungered for righteousness, and longed for spiritual understanding. However, the miracle-seekers and superficial would not find any help or comfort in Him.

Wise and good men, though they desire to do good, are far from wanting to have it talked of when it is done. It is God’s acceptance, not men’s applause that they aim for. And in times of suffering, though we should boldly go on in the way of duty, we must order the circumstances so as not to enrage, more than necessary, those who seek occasion against us. “Be wise as serpents.”

Christ is God’s gentleness, the meek and humble incarnate Son, for He is born of the Spirit of God. Isaiah had prophesied 700 years before Christ’s birth that God would send to the world His Beloved Servant who would abide in His pleasure, filled with His Spirit. In Christ’s humility and kindness we recognize the rays of the union of the Holy Trinity, for God, His Spirit, and His Son are united together for one aim and one design that is to spread truth and love all around the world.

Christ would not quarrel for His right, nor shout at His enemy to silence him. He left His tunic and His cloak to those who wanted them. He blessed those that troubled Him, and loved His enemies. Should you find a spark of hope in a poor man, encourage him to believe without any fear or doubt. The power of Christ’s spiritual victory will extend to every nation, and His light will go through our darkness. We know that He will win in the end, because He has won the victory upon the cross. His victory became a large river that irrigates the desert of our globe. Christ is the only hope for our disturbed world.

The Jews harbored feelings of hatred against Jesus, not because He criticized their clinging to the custom of the Sabbath, but because He offered His love to the Gentiles, and opened the door of salvation wide to all after it had been closed in their face. Christ was neither a racist nor an extremist who would prefer one race over another. He served all men, loved them equally, and gave His life for all of them. The Jews were angry at Christ’s pure love thinking that their covenant and reconciliation with the Lord were theirs exclusively, and that any one that dared go beyond this limitation was to be stoned.

PRAYER: Father, we thank You because You proclaimed the nature of Your divinity in Jesus and fulfilled the righteousness of the world on the cross. We worship You with our voices and ask for the meekness of Your Son’s love that we may not quarrel or cry, but submit all our problems to You, living with confidence, and experiencing Your guidance into missionary service in spite of our adversaries.

QUESTION:

122. What was Isaiah’s prophecy about Jesus in Chapter 42:1-4?

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