Making Connections Review Dec 16

Making Connections:

December 16

Isaiah 42:1-10, Matthew 12:9-21

 

Making Connections:

 

If you were to create a plan for a world takeover, how would you start? Maybe something attention grabbing first - an explosion or an interruption of all television broadcasts everywhere. If you want power, you need to make your name & presence known by something large.

 

To redeem the world, how did Jesus' earthly ministry look? Was it packed stadiums & a great marketing campaign, teaching in the biggest cities & performing miracles in the temple of Jerusalem? The way Jesus ran His ministry would probably baffle those familiar with business or political strategies today. Yes, He attracts crowds & did miracles. But He spoke mostly in smaller cities & towns, often retreating to lonely places when He began attracting too much attention. Sometimes He even told those whom He had healed that they should keep quiet.

 

Isaiah 42 speaks of the great works that the Messiah would accomplish, but also says that He will not lift His voice in the streets. God's plan of redemption did not follow a business model or the blueprint of political aspiration. Jesus did attract attention by sometimes starting actions such as healing on the Sabbath in the synagogue. He rocked the boat, but then He withdrew.

 

Jesus has done the greatest work of this world by securing our redemption through His death on the cross. He will come again in glory, and with such power that no one on the earth will miss the signs of His glory (Matthew 24:30). And yet the earthly life & ministry of Jesus lacked many of the things we might think necessary to impact the world.