When Grace Feels So Far Away

This week has held deep joy and sharp ache at the same time: a newborn in our family, the ordinary scramble to reset routines, and the heavy weight of violence and unrest in the world. Even in moments of celebration it’s possible to feel bewildered, wondering how to be amazed by God when news and grief make grace seem distant. At the Jordan, Jesus came forward to be baptized—not because he needed cleansing, but to fulfill what righteousness looks like in solidarity and obedience. John hesitated, then baptized him; the heavens opened, the Spirit settled like a dove, and God’s voice declared, “This is my Son, whom I love.” That heavenly affirmation is not a private comfort but a public unveiling of who God is in Christ.

Isaiah’s portrait of the servant helps explain how God acts when the world looks most broken. The servant brings justice without shouting, does not crush a bruised reed or snuff a dim wick, and faithfully brings light to nations. These images push back against the cultural assumption that force or domination are the only ways to fix evil. Instead, God’s justice moves through humility, patience, and careful tending of the vulnerable.

For us as Mennonite believers, these scriptures give three converging calls. First, justice can and should be enacted without mirroring the violence we oppose; nonviolence is not weakness but a form of strong, restorative action. Second, God bends toward the fragile—we are summoned to stay with the wounded rather than discard them for not being whole yet; presence often matters more than solutions. Third, our witness is lived: the church is a visible, alternative community whose everyday practices—peace, simplicity, mutual care—point to a different way of being human that slowly invites others into God’s reign.

When grace feels far away, remember that God’s coming is neither loud nor coercive but steady and intimate. The baptism scene anchors us: God identifies with the vulnerable and marks a servant who will lead with gentleness. We are invited to imitate that pattern—refusing violence, protecting the faintest light, and living in ways that reveal God’s justice and mercy one faithful step at a time.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God's justice refuses violent force God’s way of setting things right rejects domination. Justice in Scripture is restorative rather than punitive; it heals relationships and reforms systems without mirroring the cruelty it condemns. Choosing nonviolence requires patience and creativity, trusting that transformation often grows through sustained, disciplined love.
• 2. God stays with the wounded The bruised reed and dim wick image show a God who does not discard fragility. Presence—bearing someone’s pain without immediate fixes—validates their humanity and keeps hope alive. As a community, our first act is often to remain beside those who are breaking, not to demand quick fixes.
• 3. Witness is lived, not enforced God’s mission advances through embodied practices, not political coercion or cultural dominance. Daily habits of mercy, simplicity, and reconciliation form a visible alternative that draws others toward healing. Faithfulness in small, ordinary acts becomes persuasive testimony over time.
• 4. Faithfulness over spectacle wins Divine action in Jesus is quiet and rooted in steadiness, not grand displays for attention. Long-term change grows through consistent, humble fidelity rather than dramatic victories. In seasons of despair, persistent small acts of love keep grace near and light burning.

1. In Matthew 3:13-15, what was John the Baptist’s initial reaction when Jesus came to him for baptism, and how did Jesus explain why it was "proper" for him to be baptized?
2. According to Isaiah 42:2-3, how does the servant bring forth justice, and what specific actions does he *not* take when dealing with those who are fragile or struggling?
3. The sermon connected God's declaration at Jesus' baptism ("This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased") with Isaiah's description of the servant ("Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight"). What similarities do you notice in these affirmations?

1. The sermon highlighted that Jesus' baptism was not for cleansing but "to fulfill all righteousness." What does it mean for Jesus to fulfill righteousness in this context, especially given John's hesitation and Jesus' perfect nature?
2. Isaiah 42:3 describes the servant as one who "will not crush a bruised reed or snuff out a dim wick." What does this imagery tell us about God's character and His approach to those who are struggling, vulnerable, or barely holding on?
3. The sermon emphasized that God's justice "refuses violent force" and "is restorative rather than punitive." How does this understanding of justice, as presented in Isaiah and fulfilled in Jesus, challenge common societal views of how justice should be enacted or achieved?
4. Pastor [Pastor's Name] mentioned that for many during Jesus' time, "Christ’s teachings weren’t lining up with their version of religion." What might have been some of these "versions of religion" or cultural expectations that clashed with Jesus' teachings on humility, nonviolence, and compassion for the marginalized?

1. The sermon contrasted God's quiet, steady action with "grand displays for attention," reminding us that "faithfulness over spectacle wins." In what areas of your life or faith journey might you be tempted to seek quick, dramatic results or "spectacle," rather than trusting in consistent, humble fidelity? How can you intentionally shift your focus this week?
2. Pastor [Pastor's Name] called us to "refuse violence, protecting the faintest light, and living in ways that reveal God’s justice and mercy." Can you identify a specific situation this week, perhaps in your interactions online, at work, or within your family, where you might be able to embody one of these actions, even in a small way?
3. The sermon reminded us that "God stays with the wounded... choosing compassion over judgment and presence over solutions." Think of someone in your life or community who might be a "bruised reed" or "dim wick." What is one concrete way you can offer them presence and compassion this week, rather than immediately trying to "fix" their situation?
4. We heard that "our witness is lived: the church is a visible, alternative community whose everyday practices—peace, simplicity, mutual care—point to a different way of being human." What is one "everyday practice" in your own life that you believe visibly points to God's reign, and how can you intentionally strengthen or make it more visible to others this week?
5. When "grace feels far away" due to world events or personal struggles, the sermon encouraged us to remember God's steady and intimate coming. What is a specific spiritual practice or reminder you can implement this week to anchor yourself in God's presence and His gentle justice when despair tries to creep in?
6. The sermon challenged the cultural assumption that "force or domination are the only ways to fix evil." Where in your own thinking or reactions to injustice do you find yourself leaning towards forceful or dominating solutions, and how might you intentionally shift towards God's way of "humility, patience, and careful tending of the vulnerable"?
7. "Faithfulness in small, ordinary acts becomes persuasive testimony over time." What is one "small, ordinary act" of love, mercy, or reconciliation that you can commit to consistently practicing this month, trusting in its long-term impact and its power to reveal God's grace?