So often in our world we seem to think that gentle means weak. What do we do when we read about Jesus and find him to be gentle, patient and compassionate? Jesus called little children to himself. Jesus had a message to love one another and if someone needs help, to walk the extra mile. Jesus showed compassion on those who were sick and suffering. He healed lepers and gave sight to the blind. He looked at crowds of people and his heart melted as he described them as sheep without a shepherd. Jesus was often attacked verbally and threatened physically by the Pharisees. He was interrogated by Pilot and Herod and felt no need to defend himself and seek justice for unfair accusation. Jesus was silent. Jesus withdrew from the fight. Jesus was gentle. But was Jesus a push over?
When Matthew talks about Jesus in this way, he quotes Isaiah 42:1-4. Within the statements in Isaiah (and quoted in Matthew 12), the gentleness of Jesus is portrayed. “A bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench.” (42:3). Jesus will not see a crushed reed and snap it off. He will not snuff out a struggling lamp. This is saying that Jesus does not see the weak and needy and sinful without showing a gentle restoring compassion. If these were the only words, we might think that Jesus is a soft target from whom we might take advantage. This couldn’t be further from the truth. The next line of Isaiah 42:3 states, “he will faithfully bring forth justice to the nations.”
Jesus might be gentle, but Jesus has the power and will to bring justice. Jesus will right wrongs. Jesus will see sin payed for. Jesus will see evil overcome in true justice.
One of the other statements that comes in Isaiah 42 is that, he will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law (vs.4). This statement is quoted a little differently in Matthew. Matthew states, “until he brings justice to victory and in his name the Gentiles will hope.” (Matthew 12:20b-21). Why the difference? Matthew is not saying anything different to Isaiah. He has condensed the quote to say the same thing. Jesus will persevere in his ministry until justice has been fully executed. Matthew also says that the Gentiles (the nations that Isaiah describes as coastlands) will wait for or hope for his law. Jesus is the one who fulfills the law and brings justice according to his perfect law. To say that the coastlands wait for his law is exactly the same as saying the Gentiles hope in his name.
Jesus has brought ultimate defining justice in the cross. The wrath of God has been poured out upon Christ as he substituted himself for us so that justice might be expended upon our sin. In Christ, the law has been fulfilled in his life and in his atoning sacrifice the offenses against it have been punished. In him the nations hope. The cross is the pivotal point in history for all humanity. One day Jesus will return and bring full and final retribution upon every God rejecting human. It will be a decisive judgment for all eternity that will result in everlasting torment for every person who ignored his gentle patience for them to repent and believe in him.
Jesus is gentle, but he is definitely no push over.