Thursday, October 26, 2023  

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Today’s Scripture Reading 
Matthew 12:15–21

When Jesus became aware of this, he departed. Many crowds followed him, and he cured all of them, and he ordered them not to make him known. This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “Here is my servant, whom I have chosen, my beloved, with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not wrangle or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets. He will not break a bruised reed or quench a smoldering wick until he brings justice to victory. And in his name the Gentiles will hope.” (NRSV)

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Reflection

These verses are sandwiched between the fireworks of all of the wonders of Jesus. Just before these verses, Jesus has challenged the rules of the Sabbath — that were intended to create space and time with God — by stating that the Son of Man is the lord of the sabbath (Matthew 12:8) and consequently has healed a man on the sabbath, because how much more valuable is a man than a sheep? (Matthew 12:12). The Son of Man is more than the temple, more than the rules; he is the Way.

The other half of the sandwich is where things have crescendoed to new heights. Jesus frees a blind and mute man from demon possession, and the Pharisees pass it off as Beelzebub, instead of the work of the Holy Spirit through Jesus. Jesus admonishes them — warns them, “Whoever is not with me is against me” (Matthew 12:30).

Jesus at this point is showing us / the Pharisees that our judgment is precisely what will keep us far from or close to God, that through our judgment we are hurting only ourselves. What does judgment do to God? God is the judge. Or perhaps Matthew is.

Coming back to our verses, Jesus withdraws after healing a man on the sabbath, as the Pharisees are now plotting to kill him because of it. As he retreats, a large crowd follows him, and he heals all who are ill. He tells them not to speak of this, which fulfills the prophecy from Isaiah that Matthew is using to illustrate that Jesus did not heal just for show; he did not heal for fame: “He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets” (Matthew 12:19 and Isaiah 42:2). Matthew is connecting the dots from Isaiah’s prophecy to how Jesus is acting now.

It is Matthew’s judgment that the retreat, healing, and request for silence are about fulfilling the prophecy, which is the choice to believe in Jesus. Matthew is showing us that it is up to us to decide: Is Jesus arguing with the Pharisees? Or is Jesus simply telling us who he is?

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Prayer
Dear Jesus, let us believe you without having to see, to hear, to touch. Let us be of great faith, enduring, without fear of the rules, without judgment, and sure in believing who you are. In you all things are possible, all things have been and will be. We are those who believe in the wonder of the Holy Spirit and how it moved through you. Let it move through us so that we are a part of God’s wonder. Amen.

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Written by Jessica Wang, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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