The Meek Messiah

The Pharisees were looking for something they could use to discredit Jesus.  When he showed that their accusations of violating the Sabbath had no merit, they got together to see if they couldn’t find something else to accuse him of, as Matthew 12:14 tells us.  “Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.”  They were determined to destroy him no matter what it took. 

In Matthew 10:14, Jesus had commanded his disciples, “And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.”  He took his own advice, in Matthew 12:15-18.  “But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all; And charged them that they should not make him known: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall show judgment to the Gentiles.”   Rather than arguing with them, Jesus left town.  He warned the crowd that followed him not to antagonize the Pharisees by spreading the word that he was the Messiah, even though he healed all of them who were sick. 

In doing so he fulfilled Isaiah’s statement that he would have the same spirit or attitude as God.  Although God is sovereign, and could force everyone to do as he wants, he has chosen to allow mankind to make their own choices.   As II Corinthians 3:17 tells us, “…where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”  Jesus would not even try to make them go along with him, as Matthew 12:19-21 explains.  “He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.  A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.  And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.”  Until the time of judgment, mankind is to be allowed that freedom.  Jesus will not attempt to coerce them into following him, but one day, they will be judged for their decision.  He is meek, but not weak.  He just allows us to decide what we want.

The Gentiles, those who had the least knowledge of God would in many cases be the ones most willing to follow him, while the Jews, who had known more about God than anyone would be the least likely.  In Romans 9:30-10:2, Paul says, “What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.  But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.

Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.   Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.  For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.  For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.” 

While the Gentiles recognized they didn’t know how to get to heaven and simply trusted God to forgive them, the Jews were convince they could get there by just keeping God’s law.  They failed tu understand that the law was only to make them understand that they were not good enough, as Paul explained in Romans 3:19-20.  “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.  Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” 

Unfortunately, the same thing often happens today, with those who hold the strictest standards thinking they are already good enough since they do all the “right” things.  They resent any implication that they are not good enough.