Matthew 12:15-21: a reflection

15Jesus, perceiving that, withdrew from there. Great multitudes followed him; and he healed them all, 16and commanded them that they should not make him known, 17that 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. 19He will not strive, nor shout, neither will anyone hear his voice in the streets. 20He won’t break a bruised reed. He won’t quench a smoking flax, until he leads justice to victory. 21In his name, the nations will hope.”

When Matthew describes the gentle way Jesus went about his ministry, quietly healing and not seeking to draw attention to himself, he sees in it the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy of God's chosen Servant: He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets; a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory. Jesus is the gentle Servant who does not crush the weak or snuff out the faint, but tends them with care.

Notice the tender images: a bruised reed he will not break; a smoldering wick he will not quench. A bruised reed is fragile, nearly broken, easily snapped; a smoldering wick is barely burning, almost out, easily extinguished. And Jesus, the prophecy says, will not break the one or quench the other. Rather than crushing the fragile or snuffing out the barely-burning, he handles them gently, tending the weak, protecting the fragile, fanning the faint spark rather than putting it out.

That is a picture of Christ's gentleness that brings deep comfort, especially to the weak and struggling. Perhaps you feel like a bruised reed, fragile, nearly broken, or like a smoldering wick, your faith or your strength barely burning, almost out. Hear the good news: Jesus will not break you or quench you. He does not crush the fragile or snuff out the faint; he tends them with gentleness and care. If you are weak, bruised, barely hanging on, do not fear that Christ will discard or crush you. He handles the bruised reed with care and fans the smoldering wick back to flame. Bring your weakness and fragility to the gentle Servant, who will not break the bruised reed or quench the smoldering wick.

Lord Jesus, the prophecy said of you that you will not break a bruised reed or quench a smoldering wick; you are the gentle Servant who does not crush the weak or snuff out the faint, but tends them with care. When I feel like a bruised reed, fragile and nearly broken, or like a smoldering wick, my faith or strength barely burning, almost out, thank you for that gentleness. You will not break me or quench me; you do not crush the fragile or snuff out the faint, but handle them with tender care. When I am weak and barely hanging on, help me not to fear that you will discard or crush me, but to bring my weakness and fragility to you, the gentle Servant who tends the bruised reed and fans the smoldering wick back to flame. Handle me with your gentleness, Lord.