15But Jesus knew what they were planning. So he left that area, and many people followed him. He healed all the sick among them,16but he warned them not to reveal who he was.17This fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah concerning him:18“Look at my Servant, whom I have chosen.
He is my Beloved, who pleases me.
I will put my kSpirit upon him,
and he will proclaim justice to the nations.
19He will not fight or shout
or raise his voice in public.
20He will not crush the weakest reed
or put out a flickering candle.
Finally he will cause justice to be victorious.
21And his name will be the hope
of all the world.”
Remember that Jesus could destroy the universe, destroying His earthly enemies would not have been a problem. He could have come and conquered all the nations with His army of angels and forced everyone to obey and honor Him. But Jesus, our God, freely chose another way.
Jesus chose to be kind and gentle, even to those He knew would eventually kill Him. Jesus chose to come to the weak and the rejected. Notice that Jesus “left that area, and many people followed him.” He left the normal religious society and the accepted people and ways and places. Many people then left their homes and the customs and the safety of their “normal” lives to follow Him, and he healed them. Can I leave behind my safe life of acceptance and live a life of gentle forgiveness and healing kindness? Can I reach out to those who are unpopular and imperfect and unwanted? I cannot alone. I cannot fail with Jesus.
Lord, please give me the courage to follow You. Change me. Let me see that I am the weak reed and the flickering candle and come to You, and only You. And if You choose to use my flickering candle to light a path for another to find You, thank-you. Beginner’s Online Bible Study *obbs*