Seeing Jesus in Everyone

23Oct
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 fulfil 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 smouldering wick
until he brings justice to victory.
  And in his name the Gentiles will hope.’
-Matthew 12: 15-21


I love this passage from Matthew. It follows Jesus’ healing of a man with a withered hand, and withdrawing from the Pharisees who had been quick to challenge Jesus about the lawfulness of healing on the sabbath.  Jesus admonishes the crowd not to make him known, emphasizing his humble spirit, yet allowing that his message of healing and justice will be a message to all. In His name the Gentiles will hope.  


This causes me to consider the following about Jesus. He was unquestionably Jewish by birth and tradition, he had studied the Tanakh, and he had come to live into his faith tradition in a new way, a way that is open, even to the Gentiles. I see in this passage from Matthew a Jesus standing at the intersection of Judaism and a new way that includes all people, binding us together with Him, and thus, with God.


I was raised in several faith traditions; Episcopal, Greek Orthodox, and Quaker. At my Quaker school we had students of many faiths, including the Jewish tradition. We were encouraged to talk with each other about our different faiths, and the particular beliefs and traditions which made each one unique. Perhaps because of this I have always had close Jewish friends whom I love dearly. While they do not share my faith in Jesus as Savior, I cannot help but quietly see Jesus in them. Sometimes I think this is God’s way of letting me know that God has a plan for each of us, whether we be Christian, Jewish, Muslim, or whatever. Therefore, it is my job as a follower of Jesus to see God’s light in all. I am compelled to incorporate into my life and actions this intersection of Jesus the Jew, with Jesus the Son of God who died for all. And so I must strive to live a life that quietly shows that Jesus, a humble Jew and Son of God, leads us to hope, and to sharing God’s promise of everlasting life in love. 

Musical Reflection - Give Me Your Eyes - Brandon Heath


Lord Jesus, you have chosen each of us to be your loving servant. May your Spirit be in us this day, may our words be Your words, and may our eyes see the good, the heart, and the hopeful in all whom we meet. So that our faith may shine brightly for others, and thus be a source of renewed faith in You. Amen.

HumilityPentecost

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