(Mat) 12:15-21 CJB “Aware of this, he left that area. Many people followed him; and he healed them all but warned them not to make him known. This was to fulfill what had been spoken through Yesha‘yahu the prophet, “Here is my servant, whom I have chosen, my beloved, with whom I am well pleased; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will announce justice to the Gentiles. He will not fight or shout, no one will hear his voice in the streets; he will not snap off a broken reed or snuff out a smoldering wick until he has brought justice through to victory. In him the Gentiles will put their hope.”

The streets of our world are loud right now—filled with shouting, rioting, and rage. Many believe they are fighting for justice. In some nations, such as Iran, public uprising against corrupt and oppressive regimes may be understandable. But in the United States, the unrest we see has largely produced more division, destruction, and despair.

What is striking is that when God Himself walked among us, He chose a radically different way.

Matthew tells us that Jesus deliberately withdrew from public confrontation. Though crowds followed Him and He healed them all, He warned them not to make Him known. This was not weakness. It was fulfillment. Jesus embodied Isaiah’s prophecy of the Servant who would bring justice without shouting, without street battles, and without crushing the already broken.

Jesus did not riot against Rome.
He did not organize protests against corrupt leaders.
He did not attempt to reform society from the top down.

Why?

Because Jesus understood the real problem: men are not first unjust toward one another—they are first at war with God.

Our culture’s confusion about justice flows from a deeper crisis of meaning. Young people, taught that they are cosmic accidents produced by random chance, are left without purpose. Depression and suicide rise, while political causes step in to offer borrowed meaning. These movements promise justice but often use destructive means that harm both the individual and society.

Jesus offers something far better.

True justice begins with reconciliation to God. Peace with God must come before peace with men. Until the human heart is transformed, no system, protest, or ideology can produce lasting righteousness. Our sin nature ensures that injustice will continue until Christ returns and makes all things new.

That is why Jesus focused on the Great Commission, not mass movements.

God gives meaning and purpose by calling His people to reconcile others to Him through the gospel—one person at a time. We build God’s kingdom not through crowds and coercion, but through obedience, service, love, and truth. Jesus does not force repentance. He invites it. He does not crush broken people; He heals them.

Justice comes not by shouting in the streets, but by changed hearts submitting to King Jesus.

This is how God’s kingdom advances—quietly, faithfully, relentlessly—until justice is brought through to victory.

Ask yourself where you are looking for meaning and impact.

• Are you drawn to outrage more than obedience?

• Are you tempted to fix society before sharing the gospel?

• Are you louder about causes than you are faithful in making disciples?

Run today’s play:

1. Pursue peace with God daily through repentance and obedience.

2. Serve your neighbor personally, not anonymously through outrage.

3. Share the gospel clearly, trusting God to transform hearts.

Jesus didn’t shout—and He changed the world forever.
Follow Him.