Three Wondrous "Nots"

"Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth.” (Isaiah 42: 1-4a)

What images come to mind when you picture a crowd of people crusading for justice? In recent weeks we have witnessed worldwide demonstrations concerning the recent fighting in Gaza, but we can think of many other causes in the past years that have brought out the crowds as well. In our world, when significant justice issues are at stake, people feel compelled to shout, cry out, and raise their voices in the streets.

And that makes sense, because justice is concerned with every manner of relationship being right – all of God’s creatures finding their rightful place so that life lived before His face can flourish. One of the first passions that grows in a young child is anger at perceived injustice (usually done to him or her). “That’s not fair!” “But you promised!” “I didn’t do it – she did it!” And so on – we’ve all been there, saying or hearing cried-out words such as these. 

Justice concerns the exercise of power – and so we respond to injustice in ways that attempt to be powerful. It’s not surprising that folks who address injustice often make a lot of noise – whether it’s through temper tantrums or raucous demonstrations or the shooting of guns.

Isaiah’s account of the suffering servant (which points to Jesus, see Matt. 12: 19-21) affirms that seeking justice is central to his mission as well. Isaiah affirms this call to justice three times in just four verses! But Jesus’ justice-mission is qualified by three wondrously astounding “nots.”

But Jesus’ justice-mission is qualified by three wondrously astounding “nots.”

“He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets.” Insecure, uncertain power needs to make a great deal of noise. Have you ever noticed that when someone is losing an argument, his/her voice becomes louder? True power is free to speak quietly, to appear weak, to be gentle. True power does not need attention; it simply gets to work.

“A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.” Most earthly crusades for justice cause ‘collateral damage;’ the weakest ones, the pawns, are sacrificed in the power plays. In the kingdom of Jesus, great care is taken to protect the most vulnerable, the most broken. The cause of justice does not lie at the center; rather, the fruit of justice – wounded lives and situations transformed – is central.

“In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth.” Justice crusades come and go – this year’s cause will soon suffer from compassion fatigue and fall off the radar screen until the next one arrives.

But Jesus continues in steady faithfulness – walking gently with his broken world until all things are truly made new. He does not burn out; he does not give up. Isn’t it remarkable that Jesus’ manner of seeking justice is primarily shaped by three wondrous “NOTS?” 

What about us? What about you and me? A community which tastes God’s power being made perfect in its weakness also lives out these three wondrous “nots” as it seeks justice: quietly following the Savior’s lead, tending every member with the compassion of the Good Shepherd (and especially those who hurt the most), persevering in hope until the Savior comes again.