“Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.”.
(Matthew 12:18, Isaiah 42:1)
The Gospel of Matthew points to the prophet Isaiah in describing Jesus as God's chosen and beloved servant to proclaim justice to the nations. Jesus comes not as a triumphant worldly-styled leader, but as one who serves and cares for others. As the Son of God, and as God's chosen servant for the task of bringing to gospel to all the world, Jesus has no need to quarrel or cry out in the streets. His mission is not on trial. What God has promised, he will fulfill.
Matthew points out how Jesus fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah 42:1-4 by drawing out attention to Jesus' ministry on earth. In Matthew 12:1-15, Jesus shows compassion for the hungry, heals those who are disfigured, and heals those who are sick. Despite the arguments of his detractors and the plots of those who wished to kill him, Jesus demonstrated that he was not the kind of Messiah that the world would expect. Jesus did not come into the world to break the backs of his opponents and conquer them. Jesus came as God's servant to show God's love and bring the justice of God.
Sin must be judged and sinners must be saved. Jesus comes proclaiming the good news for the whole world: the power of God to save everyone who believes (Romans 1:16-17). As we are made right with God through faith in Jesus Christ, we have peace with God.
As followers of Jesus Christ, we carry this message of peace with God through Christ to the world. Like Christ, we will not be renowned worldly-styled leaders, but servants who those live out the gospel in word and deed.