“Here Is My Servant”
He said to them,
"What if one of your sheep falls into a pit on the Sabbath? Won't you take
hold of it and lift it out? A man is worth more than sheep! So the Law allows
us to do good on the Sabbath day."
Then Jesus said to the
man, "Stretch out your hand." So he stretched it out. It was as good
as new, just as good as the other hand. But the Pharisees went out and planned
how to kill Jesus.
Jesus
knew all about the Pharisees' plans. So he left that place. Many followed him,
and he healed all their sick people. But he warned them not to tell who he was.
This was to make what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah come true. It says,
"Here is my servant. I have chosen him. He is the one I love. I am very
pleased with him. I will put my Spirit on him. He will announce to the nations
that everything will be made right. He will not argue or cry out. No one will
hear his voice in the streets. He will not break a bent twig. He will not put
out a dimly burning flame. He will make everything right. The nations will put
their hope in him." —(Isaiah 42:1-4)
Matthew 12:11-21
During the season of advent on the church calendar,
Christians around the world light candles. The first candle symbolizes hope.
We think about Advent from the perspective of
earthbound creatures who know nothing but this life. We rejoice that Jesus came
to visit us on this beautiful planet that He made just for us. But it is
important to remember that Jesus came from a better place. He is first and
foremost from heaven, a place more beautiful than we can ever imagine.
We think of Jesus coming to earth, but think of Him
leaving heaven to come here. Coming here was dangerous. He made Himself
vulnerable to what we go through, and then He paid the sacrifice for our sins
with His life.
Jesus tasted death for everyone so we can taste His
goodness. He left the splendor of heaven to bring us to glory. He gave His own
life to give us hope for eternal life.
God broke into human history to
offer us the gift of eternal life.
Our Daily Bread –