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, we give you praise this day for your multiplied mercies and endless compassion. 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, humble Sufferer on our behalf.
Most gloriously so, 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. We no longer fear being judged by God for our sin. Your perfect love has driven away all fear of punishment… anxiety about Judgment Day… and uncertainty about eternity. We boast and rest in your sufferings for us, Jesus. Now, we ask, please extend your kindness and compassion through us.
Give us grace to enter the various sufferings of our family and friends. Give us hope for engaging with the injustices and brokenness of our communities. Give us courage to go further into the groans and hurts of our own hearts. We love best from a place of weakness, not strength.
Jesus, you understand our aversion to pain and suffering. You know how much we we’d love the Christian life to be an antidote for all discomfort and distress. You’re aware of the times when we get overwhelmed and overtaxed by the sufferings of others. So here’s our peace, consolation and ballast.
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 or the elimination of anybody’s suffering. Don’t let us forget this, Jesus. Forgive us when we assume the role of the 4th member of the Trinity. Rescue us when we take on more than you intend.
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 grave need and our great insufficiency. As the Father delighted in you, so you delight in us.
O, for the Day when you lead justice to complete victory and every nation finds their hope in you. So very Amen, we pray, in your kind and compassionate name.