In church we've been thinking about the kind of Messiah that the Jewish people were expecting. Even John the Baptist wondered if Jesus was the one he was expecting (Matt 11:3), perhaps because Jesus hadn't brought the vengeance of the Lord predicted in Malachi 3 and 4 (c.f. Isa 35:4). Where was the refiner's fire (Mal 3:2)? Why were the wicked not trampled down (Mal 4:3)? Where was the Messiah's judgment (Mal 3:5), the great and dreadful day of the Lord (Mal 4:5)?
It turns out Jesus was one of the quiet ones. We are reminded in Philippians 2 that Jesus came to earth with humble intentions, to take on the flesh of a human and to be obedient even to death. His victory over sin and death would come at the cost of his own life. Rather than flex his muscle in judgment of others, Jesus opened his arms to receive in himself the penalty for our disobedience. And in this act he began the process of bringing justice to the nations in the way that only God could do - justice tempered with mercy for all who bow the knee to the Lord.
“Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen one in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him
and he will bring justice to the nations.
2 He will not shout or cry out,
or raise his voice in the streets.
3 A bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;
4 he will not falter or be discouraged
till he establishes justice on earth.
In his law the islands will put their hope.” (Isaiah 42:1-4)
We often place our hope in the impressive things of this earth. But Jesus reminds us that God has used the weak things of this world to shame the strong (1 Cor 1:18-31).
We should never be afraid to be servants of others, to give our lives away for the sake of the gospel, to pour ourselves out for Jesus. In doing so we follow the example of our Lord...
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