The Difference

     In Matthew 12, Jesus once again offers healing on the Sabbath day, and somehow the Pharisees have developed their devotion to God in such a way that healing is the last thing that should be done on “the Lord’s Day.”

     Apparently, healing is not OK, but plotting murder is, for the Pharisees respond by getting together to figure out how to do Jesus in. Strange how we bend our relationship with God into religious practice that can stay shallow, self-serving, or downright unholy!

     Jesus takes off, but crowds follow him and he goes ahead and heals many. He asks them not to make a big deal about it… and Matthew tells us it’s because Jesus is trying to fulfill the prophet Isaiah’s old proclamations about the Lord’s “Suffering Servant.” Matthew invites us to see how Jesus carries out the following words from Isaiah 42:

      Look, my servant whom I chose, the one I love, in whom I find great pleasure.

      I’ll put my Spirit upon him, and he’ll announce judgment to the Gentiles.

      He won’t argue or shout, and nobody will hear his voice in the streets.

      He won’t break a bent stalk, and he won’t snuff out a smoldering wick,

      until he makes justice win. And the Gentiles will put their hope in his name.

     How do you make a day holy? Make sure it’s about healing, not hurting. Make it about life, not death. Make it about others, not yourself. Make it about the good news of Christ, not the bad news of conspiracy theory.

     How do you follow Jesus, the Suffering Servant? Don’t make life focused on winning arguments or shouting down opponents. Don’t add weight to those already burdened. Dwell on hope, and love. Remember God delights in you.

     What if more of us lived this out? Let’s live differently – and in so doing we will make a difference – for Jesus Christ today.