March 3

A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench.—Matthew 12:20.

This is a part of one of Isaiah's prophecies respecting the Messiah. How admirably it was realized in the spirit of the Redeemer must be manifest to every reader of his holy life. It was fulfilled to the very letter; for every act of the blessed Saviour's life evinced how tenderly concerned he was for human happiness; and how evident that a bruised reed he would not break, nor quench the smoking flax. A reed is a thing remarkable for its weakness, and is easily crushed and broken. A bruised reed seems unworthy of attention, and only fit to be trodden under foot of men. Smoking flax probably refers to a light made of that material, which is nearly consumed, flickering, and ready to expire. Now such is the tenderness of Jesus, that the most frail, imperfect, and apparently worthless of men, who resemble the bruised reed, he will not despise, and when there is the smallest evidence of desire, though but as the smoking flax, he will not extinguish or neglect it. The sigh of the broken heart he will hear, and the groan of the contrite spirit he will not despise. And how many striking illustrations of this he gave us in the days of his flesh. Behold his conduct towards his disciples.—Notwithstanding all their weaknesses and frailties, how tenderly he loved them—how meekly he corrected them, when they did not watch with him for one hour in the Garden—how mildly he upbraided them, at the same time apologizing for them, saying, "the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak—how he stipulated for their freedom, when he was arrested by the soldiers; and having loved them amid their manifold defects, he loved them unto the end. Let us derive encouragement from this view of the Redeemer's character. And let us also study him as our great model, that we also may possess the tenderness of Christ.