Posted by Jed Smock on [02 Dec 2009 10:15PM]
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In the mid-afternoon on December 1 at OU a blond coed handed me a hand written two and a half page note which included the following, 'Your methods do not reflect Jesus' ministry. Jesus worked out of love and compassion and truly met people where they were. He never called people out; he was not assertive, aggressive or rude.'

She also cited references from Paul concerning love. She reminded me of Jesus' ministry with Mary Magdalene. She concluded, 'I write to you based on the authority of Scripture which also say in Isaiah, `This is my servant in whom I will uphold, he will not cry out, a reed he will not break.''

The whole passage reads, 'Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax (dimly burning) shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth (Isa 42:1-3).'

Matthew 12:18-21, cites this prophesy and relates it to Christ. In all of my years of preaching, surprising, I have never had any of my critics refer to this passage to attempt to discredit my method and message. It is difficult to reconcile Isaiah 42:2 to my ministry out of its context. The verse has always puzzled me; because Christ did preach in the streets or outside. Also Proverbs 1:20 says, 'Wisdom crieth without, she utterth her voice in the streets.' And Christ is our Wisdom (1 Cor 1:24).

There is a question we often hear in the media, 'How will the Arab street respond to this new American middle eastern policy?' The Arab street is disposed to riotous and disorderly behavior. Also the Jewish Zealots were rebellious and violent; they hoped to influence Jesus to forcibly overthrow Roman rule. But Isaiah is teaching that this will not be Jesus' manner or strategy. His Kingdom will not be of this world. Nor would he make pronouncements in the streets like kings with much pomp and circumstance. Nor would he be like the hypocrites, who performed and announced their good works in the streets that they might have glory of men.

Preceding Matthew's citation of Isaiah, Jesus heals the man with the withered hand; 'then great multitudes followed him and he healed them all; and charged them that they should not make him known: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet saying (Matt 12:15-17).'

So Isaiah's servant is humble. Jesus would not promote himself through force or violence; he would not advance a grandiose and ostentatious Kingdom; but he would usher in a new kind of Kingdom, one Righteousness and Humility and Truth and Judgment.

Another possible take on Isaiah 42:2 is that there were different approaches and phases to Jesus' ministry. At times he was very visible ministering among the multitudes; but at other times he worked quietly behind the scenes, instructing his disciples and fellowshipping with his Father in Heaven. Sometimes he characterized the meek and quiet lamb; but at other times he reflected the roaring lion of the tribe of Judah. The first three verses of Isaiah 42 portray the lamb; but verse 13 speaks of the lion, 'The Lord shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealously like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies.'

Jesus could be quite harsh and condemning against the hypocrites and gainsayers; but those who were honestly seeking God or were young followers, he tended to be gentle and kind not wanting to hurt the oppressed and afflicted or quench the dim light of a new born believer.

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