“Jesus defines servant hood”
Matthew 12:15-21
Transitional Sentence:
In the midst the beginning of the attack of Jesus by the religious leaders, Matthew gives to us some of the outstanding characteristics of the Servant Jesus.
But Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed Him, and He healed them all, and warned them not to make Him known, in order that what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, might be fulfilled, saying, (12:15-17)
[I] A true servant of God is concerned with relationships.
1. Notice the phrase “But Jesus aware of this…”
What was Jesus aware of? He was aware of their relationship with God and man. A true servant of God will be concerned with his relationship with others and with God.
2. Let me give some biblical evidences that Jesus takes relationships seriously.
a) The Ten Commandments:
As we look at the Ten Commandments, we see that the first 4 pertain to me and my relationship with God.
The latter 6 pertain to me and my relationship with my neighbor. Why is there more pertaining to me and my relationship with others? Perhaps God knew that is where our problem will be. Beloved, if I am a true servant of God I will be greatly concerned with my relationship with my neighbor, with my spouse, with my fellow brother or sister-in-Christ, with my co-worker. The message is if I have a problem with my neighbor, I have a problem in my relationship with God.
b) Notice Jesus’ response to the two greatest commandments?
(Mat 22:36-40 NKJV) "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" (37) Jesus said to him, " ’You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ (38) "This is the first and great commandment. (39) "And the second is like it: ’You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
(40) "On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."
Can I share a truth with you? My relationship with God is only as good as my relationship with others. If I have problems loving others, it is the result of my relationship with God. If I am a true servant of God I will be concerned with relationships
[II] A true servant seeks to knows God’s will for His life?
1.Notice that Jesus withdrew from His opposition:
a) It was not because He was afraid.
Remember when Jesus was arrested in the garden?
(Mat 26:52-54 NKJV) But Jesus said to him, "Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. (53) "Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? (54) "How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?"
Jesus is not a wimp. I picture Jesus as a spiritual Rambo or a spiritual Clint Eastwood.
2.Jesus knew it was not God’s will for Him to be arrested yet. That is why He withdrew from the Pharisees. He knew God’s will for His life and He knew it was not time for Him to go to the cross.
Do you know God’s will for your life?
3.Can I share with you what I believe keeps so many from knowing and doing God’s will?
Sensuality and sin keeps many from doing God’s will. For example, Jesus when He was tempted in the wilderness, He could have surrendered to the devils offer of fame and popularity. Jesus could have used His divine powers to gain a following. But if He would have, He would have never went to the cross and pay the price for our sins. Also, His glory would have been short lived. He chose to deny His fleshly desires of popularity and go to the cross. In doing so He rejected the temporary for the eternal. Many today trade temporary pleasures for eternal rewards.
John MacAuthur:
The essence of Jesus’ life, His very food, was to do His Father’s will and “to accomplish His work” Jesus had the true heart of a servant, and He was submissive to His Father and wholly given to redeeming a lost world. He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” Phil. 2:6-8.
Notice the result of Jesus trading the temporary for the eternal:(v.15) “many followed Him, and He healed them all.”
The result of surrender is always changed lives.
A true servant is concerned with relationships and he desires to know God’s will. Thirdly;
[III] A true servant of God refuses self-glory:
(v.16) Yet He warned them not to make Him known…”
a) Jesus was avoiding popularity. He did not want folks to view Him as a Santa Savior. He did not want to be exalted to a military position.
b) Jesus warned the religious of that day about their abuse of self-glory.
(Mat 6:1-2 NKJV) "Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. (2) "Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
(Mat 6:5 NKJV) "And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
c) Practical Application:
What is our purpose for coming to church this morning?
What is our purpose for serving in our places of ministry? Is the abundance of our ministry trying to get notices or trying to be in the spotlight? Is the abundance of our attitude trying to get our way in the church? Many a church split have been the result of brothers and sisters in Christ fighting because things in the church is not done their way.
A true servant of God is concerned with relationships, he is concerned with knowing God’s will for his life, he refuses self glory and fourth;
[IV] A true servant is proudly proclaimed by the Father:
(v.18) Behold, My Servant whom I have chosen; My Beloved in whom My soul is well-pleased;
1. God the Father is proud of Jesus His son.
“Servant” in the Greek, means son. Matthew is trying to show the intimacy between the father and His Son.
Notice the phrase “My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased!” God has put His own stamp of approval on Jesus.
John 5:31-32, 36-37.
“If I alone bear witness of Myself, My testimony is not true. There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the testimony which He bears of Me is true.… the witness which I have is greater than that of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish, the very works that I do, bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. And the Father who sent Me, He has borne witness of Me”
Let me ask you this morning is our Heavenly Father proud of your life? He sees you and me when no one else is around. He sees you and me in our secret places. Is our actions and conduct worthy of His approval?
A true servant of God is concerned with relationships, he is concerned with knowing God’s will for his life, he refuses self glory, he is proudly proclaimed by the Father and fifth;
[V] A true servant operates in the Holy Spirit:
(v.18) “I will put My Spirit upon Him…”
(Mat 3:16-17 NKJV) When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. (17) And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
1. What is the significance of the Holy Spirit?
First, Jesus’ human form needed anointing to do His ministry. Second, the receiving of the Spirit was the sign from God that Jesus was indeed the Messiah.
(Luke 4:18-19 NKJV) "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; (19) To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD."
2. It is likewise with you and I when we get saved.
The Spirit Filling:
(Acts 1:8 NKJV) "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
The Spirit Sealing:
(2 Cor 1:21-22 NKJV) Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, (22) who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
(Eph 1:13-14 NKJV) In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
(14) who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
Let me ask you this morning is the Holy Spirit operable in your life? Do you heed to the convictions of the Holy Spirit? If I cannot feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit when I sin there is a serious problem with my relationship with the father.
A true servant of God is concerned with relationships, he is concerned with knowing God’s will for his life, he refuses self glory, he operates in the Holy Spirit and sixth;
[VI] A true servant will live the message of salvation:
1. The message of salvation is love:
(John 3:16-17 NKJV) "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (17) "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
Notice that phrase (v.18) “And He will declare justice to the Gentiles.” Is love the abundance of my heart?
(Mat 19:19 NKJV) You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
(John 13:34-35 NKJV) "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. (35) "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
(John 15:13 NKJV) "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
(Rom 12:9-10 NKJV) Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. (10) Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;
4. In verses 19-21 Jesus describes love in three ways:
First: Love is not provoking:
(Mat 12:19 NKJV) He will not quarrel nor cry out, Nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets.
John MacArthur
He spoke with dignity and control, and He used no means of persuasion but the truth. He never organized a mob or resorted to trickery, lies, or scheming, as His opponents routinely did against Him. His was the way of gentleness, meekness, and lowliness. Although He was the Son of God, the divine Messiah, and the rightful King of kings, Jesus never tried to secure a hearing, much less a following, by political power, physical force, or emotional agitation.
(Eccl 9:17 NKJV) Words of the wise, spoken quietly, should be heard Rather than the shout of a ruler of fools.
Paul to the church at Corinth:
(1 Cor 2:3-4 NKJV) I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. (4) And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power…
SECOND: Love is comforting:
(v.20) A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench, Till He sends forth justice to victory;
Jesus gives them 2 illustrations they could understand.
A “Reed” was used for many things in Jesus’ day. It was used to make shepherds’ staffs, flutes, and spears. But sometimes the reeds became bent or warn. It was then unusable and therefore tossed away.
A “smoking flax” describes a candle that has burnt down to its very end. Rendering the candle no good. Therefore it was discarded.
What is the point?
Jesus is in the business of repairing and restoring not tossing away. We, His followers should follow that same example.
THIRD: Love is always victorious.
(1 Cor 13:4 NKJV) Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; (5) does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; (6) does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
(7) bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (8) Love never fails.
A true servant of God is concerned with relationships, he is concerned with knowing God’s will for his life, he refuses self glory, he operates in the Holy Spirit and a true servant lives the message of Christ which is love.
Conclusion:
Matthew has given us a picture of the servant Jesus. Now we are to take a picture of our self and lay it beside these six characteristics and see how we measure up to true servant hood. Many of us have some work to do as we seek to become a true servant of God.
