The Tenderness of Christ
for people who are like broken reeds and smouldering wicks, the tenderness of Christ is your good news
This is the first of two sermon reflections for the Sunday, January 11, 2026. In this essay I share my reflections about Brian Zahnd’s sermon, The Tenderness of Christ.
image: Michael Kroul via Unsplash
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?’ 15 But Jesus answered him, ‘Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfil all righteousness.’ Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.’
Matthew 3:13-17 tells us the story of the baptism of Jesus. Jesus begins His public ministry with a baptism in the River Jordan. The heavens open and a dove alights upon Jesus and G-d says this is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased.
Matthew does this magical dance with Isaiah in his gospel — no gospel author draws upon Isaiah more than Matthew. In the days of the early church, before the gospels, long before anything like the Bible came to be, the people read and relied Isaiah as we of present day read and rely the gospels, perhaps. In Isaiah 42:1-2 we see the first of the servant songs of Israel. Here, Isaiah depicts Israel as servant of the Lord, represented in a single person — the anointed one. In the four servant songs, we see Isaiah prophesy of the greatness, the tenderness, humility,l and suffering of Christ.
Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. 2 He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; 3 a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. 4 He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his teaching. — Isaiah 42:1-4
I will put my spirit upon Him … my chosen, in whom my soul delights. Here Isaiah prophesies a quietness. Jesus won’t seek attention for Himself, He will have a tenderness. Matthew 12:15-21 also writes of the tenderness of Christ.
When Jesus became aware of this, he departed. Many crowds followed him, and he cured all of them, 16 and he ordered them not to make him known. 17 This was to fulfil what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
18 ‘Here is my servant, whom I have chosen,
my beloved, with whom my soul is well pleased.
I will put my Spirit upon him,
and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
19 He will not wrangle or cry aloud,
nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets.
20 He will not break a bruised reed
or quench a smouldering wick
until he brings justice to victory.
21 And in his name the Gentiles will hope.’
The ongoing hyper-fixation of a violent Christ via a misinterpretation of Revelations doesn’t have the Spirit of G-d. Jesus brings justice to victory by healing people. The crowds follow Jesus because He heals, they seek healing. Jesus was a healer. No one disputed this. They disputed where His power came from, not that He healed.
Jesus heals wounded souls/spirits. How can we bear up under a wounded spirit? A wounded spirit makes people mean — hurt people hurt people. Jesus came as a healer of hurt people. Jesus didn’t come to argue or fight back. Jesus doesn’t need a culture war combatant to take His side any more than He needed Peter to cut off that soldier’s ear.
Be still and know that He is G-d. Shhhh. Guard your heart.
The kingdom of Christ advances quietly, not with noisy spectacle. Like a seed growing in the night, like bread rising. Jesus comes quietly by healing hurting people. He will not break a bruised reed. A smouldering wick he will not quench.
Jesus has a tenderness for the broken. He doesn’t have patience for the arrogant Pharisee. By His wounds you were healed, says 1 Peter 2:24. We are invited to bring our wounds to the wounds of Christ. Bring your bruised life to the tenderness of Christ. How do you maintain vibrant faith in a materialist secular world? All things are possible to him who believes.
“Jesus help my unbelief.”
Faith is not the denial of doubt, it is acknowledging shortcomings and taking them to Jesus. Wanting to believe is enough if you will come to Jesus and ask for help and healing. Bring your flickering faith to the tenderness of Christ.