Read Mt 12.16-21
"BEHOLD, MY SERVANT WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN; MY BELOVED IN WHOM MY SOUL is WELL-PLEASED; I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT UPON HIM, AND HE SHALL PROCLAIM JUSTICE TO THE GENTILES. "HE WILL NOT QUARREL, NOR CRY OUT; NOR WILL ANYONE HEAR HIS VOICE IN THE STREETS. "A BATTERED REED HE WILL NOT BREAK OFF, AND A SMOLDERING WICK HE WILL NOT PUT OUT, UNTIL HE LEADS JUSTICE TO VICTORY. "AND IN HIS NAME THE GENTILES WILL HOPE."
(Matthew 12:18-21)
"A bruised reed He will not break And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice."
(Isaiah 42:3)
Jesus’ ministry is characterized in the Old Testament prophecy as one of gentleness and compassion toward the weak and sick. He didn’t break the bruised or snuff out the smoldering.
If you look closely at Jesus’ style of discipleship, He does not bypass the slow, ugly, weak, sick, poor, or broken. In fact He probably saw everyone through this lens so He treated all men the same (unless of course you were self-righteous and didn’t see yourself as one of the infirmed). I believe He saw the whole of sinful humanity as a broken mess in desperate need of a Savior.
Do we see the world through Jesus’ eyes or have we bought into what our pop American culture would describe as “investing in the people of value?” Are we just looking for the smart, the beautiful, strong, healthy, and rich? On the other hand, do we practice reverse spiritual discrimination and only minister to what our culture would define as the “less fortunate.” Do we see all men (including ourselves) as broken as the rest and, like Jesus, we are “not partial to anyone” (Mt 22.16). Do a quick demographic study of your disciplemaking ministry. Can anyone who wants to follow Jesus make their way into your fellowship without being snuffed out or broken off? The fact of the matter is that no one comes prepackaged spiritually and we are in the business of nurturing back to health all who would seek the Great Physician.
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