Day 1084 · Year 3 · The Great Tradition
Spurgeon on Christ for the broken
A famous preacher who battled depression spoke for the bone-tired.
Today's passage
Matthew 12:18-21
18“Here is My Servant, whom I have chosen, My beloved, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will proclaim justice to the nations.
19He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear His voice in the streets.
20A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish, till He leads justice to victory.
21In His name the nations will put their hope.”
Berean Standard Bible · public domain
Reflection
Charles Spurgeon preached to thousands while carrying deep depression. He kept pointing weary believers to a Christ who 'will not break a bruised reed or quench a smoldering wick.' That is Matthew's picture of Jesus — gentle with the people the world is finished with. If you are barely holding on today, Christ is not waiting for you to recover before he comes near. He is the kind of Savior who is gentlest with the most bruised. Take that as permission to bring him exactly the version of you that exists today.
From the great tradition · paraphrased
Charles Spurgeon · Puritans & Post-Reformation · 19th c. · England
Charles Spurgeon, who carried depression for much of his ministry, preached a Christ who is gentlest with the most bruised — and refused to let the weary feel like second-class believers.
Paraphrase only. Scripture, not any teacher, is the authority.
Think it through
- What kind of people will Jesus not break or quench?
- What does that tell you about how he comes near you in weariness?
- What 'bruised reed' part of you needs to be brought to him today?
A prayer to pray
Bring the bruised, smoldering, barely-holding-on parts of you to Christ. He will not break or quench. Let him be gentle.