King Jesus and the Queen City
In Matthew 12:15-21, we see Jesus as the fulfillment of the Isaiah 42 prophecy. Jesus knows that the Pharisees are beginning to plot to kill Him, so he tells his followers not to make Him known. This is also another piece of Israel’s grand rejection of Jesus as Messiah. The Jews did not want a suffering servant. They wanted a conquering king to lead them to overthrow Rome. But, they NEEDED an eternal king with an eternal Kingdom. We all do!

So, in verse 18, we see that the message of the gospel is for the Gentile too. We, as everybody other than the Jews, are grafted into God’s salvation plan.

We, as the Imago Dei, have a marred-ness to us, called original sin. We have a need deep inside to have the brokenness of our lives healed. Jesus provides that. But there is a brokenness that always stays with us, even after salvation. We are a “beautiful mess”. When we remember this, we have grace to provide life and healing to our brothers and sisters.

Verse 20 speaks of reeds and wicks. Reeds were everywhere in that day, and were used for 100’s of things. When a reed broke, it was tossed to the side. The same was done with wicks at the end of the candle burning. But not Jesus. He will never toss us to the side. We must remember that pain and hurt mold us into who we are. We will be better people after we have been restored. Read Psalm 34, Psalm 51, and Psalm 127.

To discuss as a family today
1. Where does your brokenness come from? (Remember the rose)

2. Where are you stuck in that brokenness?

3. Will you be bitter or better? How?

Prayer
Father, thank you for sending your Son, the Suffering Servant, to meet me where I am and take me where I need to be. I will choose to open every closet and garage and let you rummage through them. I admit that you already know what is there. I need your help because I am stuck believing _____________________. Holy Spirit, please speak Truth and Life into this situation.