Embracing the Servant King's Love and Restoration
Summary
Today, as we gathered on Mother’s Day, we celebrated the gift of mothers and the unique ways God’s love is reflected through them. We honored not only biological mothers but also spiritual mothers—those who have nurtured and discipled others in the faith. In the midst of joy, we acknowledged that this day can also bring pain for some, whether through loss, longing, or broken relationships. Yet, in Christ, God has given us a greater family, and in the church, we find belonging, comfort, and purpose.
Turning to Matthew 12:15-21, we considered Jesus as the Servant King, the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy. Jesus models for us a life of humble submission to God’s will. When faced with opposition and misunderstanding, He did not retaliate or seek attention, but quietly trusted the Father’s timing and plan. His silence was not weakness, but a powerful act of obedience, showing us that true greatness is found in submission to God, even when it leads through suffering.
We also saw the heart of Jesus for the broken. The imagery of the bruised reed and smoldering wick reminds us that Jesus does not discard the weak or wounded. Instead, He gently restores and heals. All of us, in different ways, are bruised by sin, disappointment, or failure. Yet, Jesus invites us to come as we are, to bring our wounds to Him, and to find mercy and restoration. The stories of David, Jeremiah, Peter, and Paul remind us that God uses the bruised and broken for His glory.
Finally, we were reminded that the hope Jesus brings is not just for a select few, but for all nations. The Servant King’s mission is global—He is the hope for every tribe, tongue, and people. As recipients of His grace, we are called to proclaim this hope, to carry the message of Jesus to our neighbors and to the ends of the earth. Whether in our homes, workplaces, or across the world, we are sent to share the good news that the Servant King welcomes the broken and brings justice through mercy.
Key Takeaways
- Humble submission to God’s will is the path to true greatness. Jesus’ quiet withdrawal in the face of opposition was not a retreat, but a demonstration of trust in the Father’s timing and purpose. In a world that prizes self-assertion, we are called to follow Christ’s example of restraint, humility, and obedience, even when it means waiting or suffering in silence. [51:22]
- God is pleased with the servant heart that yields to Him, even when the way is hard. The Father’s delight in Jesus was rooted in His perfect submission, culminating in the cross. Our own spiritual growth depends on learning to bend our will to God’s, trusting that His plans are good even when they lead through difficulty or obscurity. [54:30]
- Jesus does not discard the bruised or broken; He restores them. The world often overlooks or rejects those who are weak, wounded, or have failed, but Jesus draws near to heal and redeem. Our bruises—whether from sin, suffering, or disappointment—are not reasons for shame, but invitations to experience the gentle mercy of Christ, who binds up the brokenhearted. [01:06:43]
- Every believer is called to bring their wounds honestly to Jesus. The stories of biblical figures like David, Jeremiah, Peter, and Paul show that God uses those who are deeply aware of their need for grace. Rather than hiding our failures or trying to fix ourselves, we are invited to come openly to Christ, trusting that His mercy is greater than our sin and that He delights to restore us. [01:10:30]
- The hope of the Servant King is for all nations, and we are entrusted with this message. Jesus’ mission was not limited by geography, ethnicity, or status; His kingdom is for every people group. As those who have received His grace, we must not hoard this hope but share it—across the street and around the world—so that the light of Christ reaches every bruised reed and smoldering wick. [01:18:30]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[30:17] - Honoring Mothers
[34:04] - Celebrating New Mothers
[35:06] - Recognizing Mothers with Many Children and Grandchildren
[36:24] - Prayer for Mothers and Spiritual Mothers
[43:48] - Scripture Reading: Ephesians 1
[50:13] - Jesus, the Fulfillment of Isaiah 42
[51:22] - The Servant King’s Submission
[54:30] - God’s Pleasure in Christ’s Obedience
[01:06:43] - The Bruised Reed and Smoldering Wick
[01:10:30] - Biblical Examples of Restoration
[01:18:30] - The Global Hope of the Servant King
[01:25:12] - Responding to the Call: Prayer and Invitation
[01:35:14] - Announcements and Upcoming Outreach Events
[01:38:00] - Closing and Benediction
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Servant King and the Bruised Reed
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### Bible Reading
- Matthew 12:15-21
(Jesus as the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy, the Servant King who brings justice and hope to the nations, and who does not break the bruised reed or snuff out the smoldering wick.)
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### Observation Questions
1. In Matthew 12:15-21, what actions does Jesus take when He is faced with opposition from the Pharisees? How does He respond to the crowds that follow Him? [51:22]
2. According to the passage, what does Isaiah’s prophecy say about the character and mission of the Servant King? What specific qualities are highlighted? [50:13]
3. What is the significance of the imagery of the “bruised reed” and “smoldering wick” in this passage? How does Jesus treat those who are weak or wounded? [01:06:43]
4. In verse 21, what is the scope of the hope that Jesus brings? Who is included in His mission? [01:18:30]
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus chose to withdraw and remain silent instead of confronting the Pharisees or seeking public attention? What does this teach us about true greatness and submission to God? [51:22]
2. The Father’s delight in Jesus is mentioned both in Isaiah’s prophecy and at Jesus’ baptism. What does this reveal about the kind of obedience God values? How does this relate to our own spiritual growth? [54:30]
3. The sermon described how Jesus does not discard the bruised or broken, but restores them. Why is this important for understanding the heart of Jesus? How does this contrast with how the world often treats weakness or failure? [01:06:43]
4. The hope of the Servant King is described as being for “all nations.” What does this mean for the church’s mission today? How should this shape our view of who belongs in God’s family? [01:18:30]
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### Application Questions
1. Jesus modeled humble submission by quietly trusting God’s timing and plan, even when misunderstood or opposed. Is there a situation in your life right now where you are tempted to assert yourself or demand recognition? What would it look like to follow Jesus’ example of restraint and trust? [51:22]
2. The Father was pleased with Jesus’ obedience, even when it led through suffering. Are there areas where you find it hard to submit to God’s will, especially when it’s difficult or unclear? How can you pray for help to trust God’s goodness in those moments? [54:30]
3. The sermon emphasized that Jesus does not discard the bruised or broken. Can you identify a “bruise” in your own life—whether from sin, disappointment, or failure—that you have been hiding or ashamed of? What would it look like to bring that honestly to Jesus this week? [01:06:43]
4. The stories of David, Jeremiah, Peter, and Paul show that God uses those who are aware of their need for grace. Is there a failure or weakness in your past that God might want to use for His glory? How could you share your story to encourage someone else? [01:10:30]
5. The hope of Jesus is for all nations and all people. Who in your life right now might feel like a “bruised reed” or “smoldering wick”? How can you reach out to them with the gentle mercy of Christ this week? [01:18:30]
6. The sermon called us not to “hoard the hope” but to share it. What is one practical step you can take this month to share the message of Jesus—whether in your home, workplace, neighborhood, or beyond? [01:18:30]
7. For mothers and spiritual mothers: How have you seen God use your nurturing or discipling of others to reflect His love? Is there someone you can encourage or pray for this week as a spiritual mother? [36:24]
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Thank God for the gentle and merciful heart of Jesus, who welcomes the broken and gives hope to all. Ask for help to submit to God’s will, to bring your wounds honestly to Christ, and to share His hope with others.
Devotional
Day 1: Submitting to God’s Will in Humble Silence
Jesus models humble submission to God’s will, choosing quiet obedience over self-promotion or confrontation, even when facing opposition and suffering. His restraint and trust in God’s timing reveal the true greatness of a servant’s heart, inviting us to follow his example by surrendering our own plans and desires to God, especially when it is difficult or when we are tempted to assert ourselves. In our daily lives, this means choosing humility over strife, trusting God’s purposes, and obeying his commands even when it requires sacrifice or goes unnoticed by others. [54:00]
Matthew 12:15-21 (CSB)
"Jesus was aware of this and withdrew. Large crowds followed him, and he healed them all. He warned them not to make him known, so that what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: Here is my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. He will not argue or shout, and no one will hear his voice in the streets. He will not break a bruised reed, and he will not put out a smoldering wick, until he has led justice to victory. The nations will put their hope in his name."
Reflection: Where in your life are you tempted to assert your rights or demand recognition, and how can you choose humble submission to God’s will instead today?
Day 2: The Servant King Welcomes the Bruised and Broken
Jesus, our servant King, does not discard those who are weak, wounded, or struggling; instead, he gently restores and heals all who come to him, no matter how broken they feel. Like a bruised reed or a smoldering wick, you may feel fragile or unworthy, but Jesus’ heart is full of mercy and compassion—he draws near to the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds, inviting you to bring your failures, pain, and shame to him for healing and restoration. You do not need to hide your wounds or fix yourself before coming; Jesus welcomes you as you are and offers his gentle, restoring grace. [01:06:43]
Psalm 34:18 (CSB)
"The Lord is near the brokenhearted; he saves those crushed in spirit."
Reflection: What wound or area of brokenness are you tempted to hide from Jesus, and how can you bring it honestly to him for healing today?
Day 3: Proclaiming the Global Hope of Jesus
The hope and salvation found in Jesus are not limited to one group or nation but are offered to every tribe, people, and language across the world. Jesus, the servant King, fulfilled God’s promise to bless all nations, and his kingdom is expanding to the ends of the earth—one day, people from every background will worship him together. As recipients of this hope, we are called not to keep it to ourselves but to share the good news of Jesus with those around us, whether across the street or across the globe, so that others may find life and hope in his name. [01:17:30]
Revelation 7:9-10 (CSB)
"After this I looked, and there was a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: Salvation belongs to our God, who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!"
Reflection: Who in your life—near or far—needs to hear the hope of Jesus, and what is one step you can take this week to share it with them?
Day 4: Spiritual Motherhood and the Ministry of Nurturing Faith
God uses mothers and spiritual mothers to reflect his tender care, compassion, and love, nurturing faith in others and raising up disciples of Jesus. Whether or not someone has biological children, the call to spiritual motherhood is vital in the kingdom of God—teaching, encouraging, and pointing others to Christ through word and example. This ministry is a beautiful expression of God’s grace, as women invest in the next generation and in those around them, helping others grow in faith and experience the love of God. [36:24]
Titus 2:3-5 (CSB)
"In the same way, older women are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not slaves to excessive drinking. They are to teach what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands and to love their children, to be self-controlled, pure, workers at home, kind, and in submission to their husbands, so that God’s word will not be slandered."
Reflection: Who is someone you can encourage or nurture in faith this week, either as a mother or spiritual mother, and how can you intentionally invest in them?
Day 5: Following Jesus in Everyday Discipleship
Discipleship means learning to live and look like Jesus, following his example in every area of life—whether you are new to faith, have plateaued in your spiritual growth, or are seeking to take your next step. Jesus provides a clear pattern for us: submitting to God, welcoming the broken, and proclaiming hope to the world. Each day is an opportunity to grow in faithfulness, to surrender your plans to God, and to serve others with humility and love, trusting that Christ’s grace empowers you to live for his glory. [51:22]
John 14:15 (CSB)
"If you love me, you will keep my commands."
Reflection: What is one specific area where you sense God calling you to grow in Christlikeness, and what practical step can you take today to follow Jesus more closely?
Quotes
Our king followed God with humble and quiet submission he didn't fight back to the Pharisees and so as we do we follow King Jesus and see that we too need to humbly submit to him now these verse 15 starts Jesus was aware of this and withdrew well if you just had opened your bible and you landed here what's this well you have to look to the verse before what had happened well the religious the pharisees went out and plotted against him he had he had uh just healed a man on the sabbath with a shriveled hand and the religious leaders were conspiring to get him but what does jesus do even though these large crowds followed him and he healed them all he warned them not to make himself known again he withdrew he didn't fight he didn't fuss he just served healed and told people to keep it to themselves instead of confronting them or rallying a crowd he withdrew quietly healing all to follow him. [00:56:07] (86 seconds)
Why should we care about Jesus's silence because it reveals the heart of Jesus the heart of Jesus to willfully submit and bend the need to God the father it shows the servant king who perfectly submitted to God's plan even when it meant suffering and death this humility fiercely contrasts with contrasts with the Pharisees of the time the violence the pride showing that Jesus is showing the true greatness lies in submission to God and as the servant of Jesus is now we can look to Jesus now we can look to him and say oh that's how we succeed in life is submitting to God. [01:03:18] (46 seconds)
Jesus helps us see this in a way when he says this in John chapter 14 15 if you love me you will keep my commands Jesus connects the our love our desire our hearts for submitting to the commands now it's expressively to the commands of Scripture but we know those are the will of God and in in in in in extrapolating the servant king his willingness to go to the cross it is a command to us to then submit to God in all things that Jesus' silence teaches us that obedience to God often requires restraint humility and a willingness to serve others without fanfare. [01:04:18] (52 seconds)
Are you tempted to assert your rights raise your voice in anger or seek others applause for your efforts look to Jesus who quietly trusted the will of God follow him by obeying his commands so in your workplace when you feel like you're being mistreated or tensions are rising choose humility over strife represent God at your work mothers you have shown and served your family selflessly reflecting Jesus in modest grace continue to submit to the will of God in your life friends in your spiritual life surrender your plans to God's timing even when it means sacrifice. [01:07:04] (60 seconds)
Come to the servant King who doesn't break the bruised Jesus is a King who invites us to come as as we are healed and forgiven by his grace Jesus beckons us to come unlike the Pharisees who are hard Jesus reminds us that his yoke is easy and his burden is light his heart is lowly and gentle and desires those who are broken to come to him to be healed. [01:08:39] (34 seconds)
All of them are bruised reeds all of us are bruised reeds and none of us are broken off or discarded praise god he loves us and draws us near in his great work a bruised reed richard sibs a puritan asked these questions are you bruised be of good comfort he calls you conceal not your wounds open all before him and go to christ there is more mercy more mercy in him than sin in you praise god. [01:14:35] (38 seconds)
Our servant king has completed the mission that god has given not for just the hope of a few but the hope of every tribe people nation and tongue do you see this kind of this beginning and end um that in verse 18 he will proclaim justice tothe nations and verse 21 the nations will put their hope in his name there's this understanding that it is in this servant king the king still needs to be the king he brings justice so he he comes and and goes against evil and sin and punishes the wicked he has to proclaim the message of God the holiness of God and yet this servant gave his life for his people and it is in this wonderful message the servant king turns it all around to say the the same people I proclaim justice these nations will also proclaim their hope in me. [01:17:46] (80 seconds)
Jesus Christ is the one who was breezed bruised for our iniquities so that the bruised and the broken could be healed and sent his mission was not limited geography politics or ethnicity his kingdom is expanding across the globe and every people group culture and language to where one day all of us will bow down and look across the room of heaven and see what revelation 7 9 and 10 says after this I looked and there was a vast multitude from every nation tribe people and language so that no one could number standing before the throne and before the lamb they were clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hands and they cried out with a loud voice salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne and to the lamb praise God. [01:19:48] (60 seconds)
We're not strong polished reeds we are bruised ones he has healed and now we carry his name not perfectly but powerfully because his name saves to a hurting world isn't it good if we're looking for a leader to follow we don't have to look to Frankfurt or Washington or a boss or teacher we can look to the servant king named King Jesus. [01:24:24] (38 seconds)
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