A Messiah Who Serves
Text: Matthew 12:15-21
Introduction
1. Illustration: Martin of Tours was a Roman soldier and a Christian. One cold winter day, as he was entering a city, a beggar stopped him and asked for alms. Martin had no money; but the beggar was blue and shivering with cold and Martin gave what he had. He took off his soldier’s coat, worn and frayed as it was; he cut it in two and gave half of it to the beggar man. That night he had a dream. In it he saw the heavenly places and all the angels and Jesus in the midst of them; and Jesus was wearing half of a Roman soldier’s cloak. One of the angels said to him, "Master, why are you wearing that battered old cloak? Who gave it to you?" And Jesus answered softly, "My servant Martin gave it to me" (Barclay, The Gospel of Matthew, Vol. 2, 326).
2. Outside of love and mercy there is no characteristic displayed more in the life of Jesus than that of a servant.
3. If we want to truly be His disciples we must learn how to serve. People who serve are:
a. Humble
b. Chosen
c. Gentle
4. Read Matthew 12:15-21
Proposition: At the center of all true disciples of Jesus is the heart of a servant.
Transition: The first thing we must realize about people who serve is...
I. People Who Serve Are Humble (15-16).
A. Not to Reveal Who He Was
1. As you might recall, the last section we covered in Matthew's Gospel Jesus had just had a confrontation with the Pharisees about what is permissible on the Sabbath.
a. First they were upset because his disciples were picking heads of grain on the Sabbath.
b. Then they were upset because he healed a man on the Sabbath.
c. In the end, they wanted to kill him.
2. However, "Jesus knew what they were planning. So he left that area..."
a. Jesus could have taken the easy way out here. He could have merely called the power of heaven down on them, but instead he chose simply to slip away.
b. There are times when we must stand and fight and then there are times when it is best to simply walk away.
c. There would be a time in Jerusalem when Jesus would go toe to toe with the Pharisees, but here is not the time because he has a wider mission to accomplish first (France, NICNT: Matthew, 469).
d. Jesus didn't come to fight with the religious establishment, he came to serve.
3. As was usually the case with Jesus, "many people followed him. He healed all the sick among them..."
a. Those in need will seek him out, and Jesus will not disappoint.
b. From the beginning of his public ministry people came to Jesus for healing from the surrounding countryside, now including people from as far away as Idumea, over a hundred miles away (Wilkins, NIV Application Commentary, New Testament: Matthew, 443).
c. He healed "all the sick" that he encountered.
d. Jesus' miracles of healing demonstrated His divine power, but they also demonstrated His divine love and compassion for suffering people.
e. He healed in order to reveal the loving heart of God, which continually goes out to those who are hurting, burdened, and persecuted (MacArthur New Testament Commentary – Matthew 8-15).
4. Now here is where we truly see the servant heart of Jesus, because after he healed them "he warned them not to reveal who he was."
a. This is the third time in Matthew that we find this phrase (8:4; 9:30).
b. The time hadn't come yet for him to reveal himself as the Messiah. Therefore he doesn't seek the praise or glory of man and shows no desire to be known as a miracle worker (Horton, 235).
c. And although He had great compassion for the physical afflictions of the people, His primary work was to save souls, not bodies (MacArthur New Testament Commentary – Matthew 8-15).
d. "Was it a silence about healing that he ordered? Not at all. For the salvation that was given to all was its own testimony. But by ordering it to be kept secret Jesus also shunned boasting about himself" (Hilary, Ancient Christian Commentary On Scripture, vol. 1, 241).
e. With Jesus it wasn't about fame or notoriety, it was about serving and meeting the needs of others.
B. Humble Hearts
1. Illustration: Corrie ten Boom was once asked if it were difficult for her to remain humble. Her reply was simple. “When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday on the back of a donkey, and everyone was waving palm branches and throwing garments onto the road, and singing praises, do you think that for one moment it ever entered the head of that donkey that any of that was for him?” She continued, “If I can be the donkey on which Jesus Christ rides in his glory, I give him all the praise and all the honor.”
2. To be like Jesus is to put God first!
a. Colossians 1:18 (NASB)
He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.
b. To be a servant means the Father's will is more important than our will.
c. To be a servant means sacrificing our desires for His.
d. To be a servant means be willing to say, "here I am Lord, send me!"
3. To be like Jesus is to put others before yourself.
a. Philippians 2:3 (NLT)
Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.
b. To be a servant mean putting others first.
c. To be a servant means looking at people through the eyes of Jesus.
d. To be a servant means being willing to lay down your life for them because that's what Jesus did!
4. To be like Jesus is to walk in humility.
a. 1 Peter 5:5-6 (NLT)
...And all of you, serve each other in humility, for “God opposes the proud but favors the humble.”
6 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.
b. To be a servant means that Jesus is more important than me.
c. To be a servant means I am at his dispossal and not the other way around.
d. To be a servant means He is the Creator and I am the created!
Transition: Remember it is always better to be humble than to be humbled! Next...
II. People Who Serve Are Chosen (17-18).
A. Whom I Have Chosen
1. As is common in Matthew's Gospel, he quotes the OT showing that Jesus is the Messiah.
2. He says, "This fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah concerning him"
a. Here Matthew quotes a passage from Isaiah 42 that announces the arrival of the Servant of the Lord.
b. In Isaiah the "servant of the Lord" is used of those people called to do the work of the Lord.
c. Here it refers to the Messiah alone because only he could do the redemptive work of the Lord. (Horton, 235).
3. He quotes Isaiah saying, “Look at my Servant, whom I have chosen. He is my Beloved, who pleases me..."
a. The word translated Servant is not the usual word for "servant" and is often translated "son."
b. In secular Greek it was used of an especially intimate servant who was trusted and loved like a son.
c. However, the emphasis here is not on servant, but rather that he was chosen.
d. Here Matthew is quoting Is. 42:1 from not a Hebrew version of the OT, but rather the later Greek version known as the Septuigent. A closer look at the Hebrew version shows why.
e. Isaiah 42:1 (NLT)
“Look at my servant, whom I strengthen. He is my chosen one, who pleases me. I have put my Spirit upon him. He will bring justice to the nations.
f. Notice that in the Hebrew version "my servant" and "have chosen" are separated, but in the Greek version they are together. Matthew uses it this way to put the focus of attention on the fact that Jesus was chosen by God.
g. The Greek phrase translated I have chosen (from hairetizō) indicates a firm and determined decision and is used nowhere else in the New Testament.
h. It was used in secular Greek of irrevocably adopting a child into the family as an heir who could never be disenfranchised.
i. The Father had irrevocably chosen His beloved Son to be His divine Servant, the only One qualified for the task of redemption (MacArthur New Testament Commentary – Matthew 8-15).
4. As good Pentecostals, we know that when God chooses someone for a job he empowers that person to accomplish that job. The text says, "I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations."
a. The coming of the Holy Spirit on Jesus at his baptism also connects him with two other prophecies in Isaiah (11:1-10; 61:1-2).
b. These passages also show that the Spirit would be upon Him to teach and to bring peace as well as to bring justice to the nations (Horton, 237).
c. You might ask how Jesus could receive the Holy Spirit?
d. Since he was the Son of God, didn't he already have the Holy Spirit?
e. Yes he did, as the Son of God, but don't forget Jesus was also 100% human and needed the same empowering of the Spirit that we need.
f. There is a most exciting aspect here - the same Holy Spirit that empowered Jesus is the same Holy Spirit that empowers us!!
B. Chosen People
1. Illustration: There was a boy who did not have much athletic ability. Every time he and his friends would play some game, he was always the last to be chosen. One day two new fellows came to play with them and were allowed to be team captains because they were older. The first team captain chose the boy who had always been chosen last before. Why? Because they were brothers, and he loved his brother. So it is with God. He chose us not because of our abilities, but because he loves us.
2. The incredible fact is that Jesus chose us.
a. John 15:16 (NLT)
You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.
b. He didn't choose us because we were smarter.
c. He didn't choose us because we were more talented.
d. He didn't choose us because we were better looking.
e. He chose us because he loved us.
3. The reason he chose us is to serve Him.
a. 1 Peter 2:9 (NLT)
But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
b. He chose you to serve Him
c. He chose you to proclaim His praises
d. He chose you to declare His salvation
Transition: Remember, God chose you and if He had wanted someone else He would have chosen someone else. Also...
III. People Who Serve Are Gentle (19-21).
A. He Will Not Fight or Shout
1. All too often we make the mistake of confusing gentleness with weakness, especially when it comes to Jesus.
a. Jesus was most definitely not week. Anyone who could withstand the constant attacks of the religious leaders, not to mention his scourging and crucifixion, was certainly not week.
b. However, the idea of gentleness is that of power under control.
c. It doesn't mean letting people walk all over, but rather being in control of your emotions.
2. Isaiah's prophecy about Jesus says, "He will not fight or shout or raise his voice in public."
a. Fight carries the idea of wrangling, hassling, or even brawling.
b. Shout means to shout or scream excitedly.
c. The term was sometimes used of a dog's barking, a raven's squawking, and even the ramblings of a drunk (MacArthur New Testament Commentary – Matthew 8-15).
d. That he would not raise his voice in public shows that he was not seeking fame, which goes along with his request that the crowds keep silent about who he is (Horton, 237).
e. Jesus always stood for the truth, but He never organized a mob or resorted to trickery, lies, or scheming, as His opponents routinely did against Him.
f. His was the way of gentleness, meekness, and lowliness.
g. Although He was the Son of God, the divine Messiah, and the rightful King of kings, Jesus never tried to secure a hearing, much less a following, by political power, physical force, or emotional agitation (MacArthur New Testament Commentary – Matthew 8-15).
3. Isaiah also says, "He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. Finally he will cause justice to be victorious."
a. In ancient times reeds were used for many purposes, but once a reed was bent or battered it was useless.
b. When a lamp burned down to the end of the wick, it would only smolder and smoke without making any light.
c. Since such a smoldering wick was useless, it was put out and thrown away, just like a broken reed (MacArthur New Testament Commentary – Matthew 8-15).
d. The picture that is being painted here is one in which Jesus would show an extraordinary willingness to encourage damaged or vulnerable people who have been tossed aside by society (France, 473).
e. People like the weak reed or the flickering candle would be treated with love and concern by the Servant of the Lord.
f. Jesus demonstrated this by reaching out to those in need, eating with outcasts and sinners, extending grace to the lonely and forgotten, and preaching the gospel to the poor.
4. Because of all of this, "his name will be the hope of all the world.”
a. Jesus came not only for the nation of Israel, but he came to bring hope to all nations.
b. This is in line with the promise made to Abraham, that through him all the people on earth would be blessed.
c. Genesis 12:3 (NLT)
"...All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”
d. This blessing would find its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus.
e. Jesus came not to be blessed, but to be a blessing.
B. Gentleness of Character
1. Illustration: “In our rough-and-rugged individualism, we think of gentleness as weakness, being soft, and virtually spineless. Not so! ... Gentleness includes such enviable qualities as having strength under control, being calm and peaceful when surrounded by a heated atmosphere, emitting a soothing effect on those who may be angry or otherwise beside themselves, and possessing tact and gracious courtesy that causes others to retain their self-esteem and dignity.... Instead of losing, the gentle gain. Instead of being ripped off and taken advantage of, they come out ahead!" (Charles R. Swindoll)
2. Gentleness comes from the Holy Spirit.
a. Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)
22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
b. It is the natural result when we yield ourselves to the Spirit.
c. It is not something that we have to work up or determine to be.
d. It comes by saying, "Lord, do with me as you will!"
3. Gentleness is not something that we do, but something that we become.
a. Philippians 1:11 (NLT)
May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ…
b. Gentleness is a character trait produced when we grow closer to Jesus.
c. It is produced by spending time in his presence.
d. It is produced by spending time in his word.
e. It is produced by spending time with his people.
Transition: Humility and Gentleness are produced in our life by serving like Jesus did.
Conclusion
1. Those who serve are:
a. Humble
b. Chosen
c. Gentle
2. Are you a servant of the Lord?
3. How are you serving?
4. Are you saying, "here I am Lord, use me!"
