壓傷的蘆葦、他不折斷．將殘的燈火、他不吹滅（賽42章）

壓傷的蘆葦、他不折斷．將殘的燈火、他不吹滅．他憑真實將公理傳開。（賽 42：3）

本章是進一步預言彌賽亞，也就是耶穌基督的降生，祂要來拯救人的靈魂，不但是祂地上的選民，也要將祂的救恩擴展到萬民，也就是今天的我們。因為神說：「看哪！我的僕人、我所扶持、所揀選、心裏所喜悅的、我已將我的靈賜給他、他必將公理傳給外邦。」（賽 42：1）。

他不喧嚷、不揚聲、也不使街上聽見他的聲音。（賽 42：2）。是的！主耶穌來，確實是輕輕柔柔的，選擇卑微的木匠家裡，更選擇降生在馬槽中。祂沒有華麗地登場，即使有星星在天空顯出異象，卻是無聲的。這樣明亮的星星也是出現在黑夜裡，只有牧羊人、虔誠的東方博士可以看見。

相對於世人的總是愛高舉自己的名，但是主耶穌卻選擇低調。

曾聽到一個故事說：有一個人，遇見耶穌，很高興地跟主耶穌寒暄。離開前，他遞上自己的名片，上面有許多頭銜：「某某大學畢業、某某大學博士學位、某某教會長執、某某事工召集人....等」。耶穌微笑地接受他的名片。然後主耶穌也回贈祂的名片，是一張小小的白色名片，上面只有「耶穌」兩個字。這個人就問主耶穌說：「主啊！祢的名片怎麼甚麼都沒有，沒有頭銜？祢是天地萬物的主宰，是神的獨生愛子，是人類的救主啊！要寫可以寫很多啊！怎麼會是空白的？」主耶穌只有淡淡地說：「那些頭銜都不是重點，重點是『我愛你』，所以我要將我的名賜給你，讓你可以靠著這個名得救。這樣就夠了。」

當我第一次聽到這故事時很震撼！主耶穌「不喧嚷、不揚聲、也不使街上聽見祂的聲音」。而我們卻是僅僅為主作一點點事，就急著昭告天下，唯恐有人不知道。

然後祂的溫柔，真的難以與「創造天地萬物的主宰」這樣的身分聯想，因為祂：「壓傷的蘆葦、他不折斷．將殘的燈火、他不吹滅．他憑真實將公理傳開。」。這讓我想起祂揀選使徒保羅的過程。

2026.5.31是真耶穌教會台灣總會第74屆信徒代表大會的日子，總負責簡明瑞傳道在會後的聖餐禮，用使徒行傳第九章中保羅的揀選跟我們分享。他說到保羅被主揀選的時候，是「仍然」在口吐兇言、迫害信主耶穌的人的時候，並不是在認真事奉、虔誠愛神的時候。然而聖經說，這時天上「突然」有大光照著他，揀選他。主的「突然」揀選他，遇上「仍然」軟弱的保羅，神就是這樣在愛我們，在我們還做罪人的時候就愛我、揀選我。

讓我想到今天的這段經文：壓傷的蘆葦、將殘的燈火。蘆葦本是沒有價值、毫無用途的雜草，壓傷了，就更沒有價值了，形同垃圾。蘆葦，就好像我們每一位世人，原本就是沒有價值的，竟然又被壓傷了，好像遇到悲慘的事、遇到面臨生死關頭的病痛、甚至像當時後的保羅一樣，「靈魂生病了」。但我的主耶穌基督並沒有因為這樣就不屑一顧，反而輕柔地拾起，拯救他。

將殘的燈火，好比軟弱的工人，因為本來有火，曾經為主發光，卻不知甚麼原因挫折了、軟弱了，不想事奉了，負氣想要離開事奉行列了。祂卻也沒有順勢要將他吹滅，而可能是用雙手護住小火，想辦法讓火再度旺起來。

今天我們聽到一點不公不義，就急著批評、肉搜、落井下石，要置人於死地。聽到神的工人軟弱了，就急著順勢要挖出過往他的一切不是。我們為何是這樣的人？一點都不可愛。

讀完本章，熱淚盈眶，自覺不配，因為主耶穌是如此地柔和謙卑，而我自己呢？

基督耶穌降世、為要拯救罪人．這話是可信的、是十分可佩服的．在罪人中我是個罪魁。然而我蒙了憐憫、是因耶穌基督要在我這罪魁身上、顯明他一切的忍耐、給後來信他得永生的人作榜樣。(提前 1：15-16)

By Isaiah Kao

A Bruised Reed He Will Not Break, And a Dimly Burning Wick He Will Not Extinguish (Isai1ah 42)

June 3, 2026

“A bruised reed He will not break,

And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish;

He will faithfully bring forth justice.” (Isaiah 42:3, NASB 2020)

This chapter further prophesies the coming of the Messiah, that is, Jesus Christ. He came to save human souls. Not only would He save His chosen people on earth, but He would also extend His salvation to all nations, including us today. For God said:

“Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold;

My chosen one in whom My soul delights.

I have put My Spirit upon Him;

He will bring forth justice to the nations.” (Isaiah 42:1, NASB 2020)

“He will not cry out or raise His voice,

Nor make His voice heard in the street.” (Isaiah 42:2, NASB 2020)

Yes, when the Lord Jesus came, He truly came gently and quietly. He chose to be born in the humble home of a carpenter, and even chose a manger as His birthplace. He did not appear with earthly splendor. Although a star appeared in the sky as a sign, it came silently. That bright star appeared in the darkness of night, and only shepherds and the reverent wise men from the East could see it.

People in the world always love to exalt their own names, yet the Lord Jesus chose to remain lowly and humble.

I once heard a story. A man met Jesus and happily greeted Him. Before leaving, he handed the Lord Jesus his business card. On it were many titles: “Graduate of such-and-such university,” “Doctorate degree,” “minister of a certain church,” “leader of a certain ministry,” and so on. Jesus smiled and accepted the card. Then the Lord Jesus gave him His own card in return. It was a small white card with only one word written on it: “Jesus.”

The man asked, “Lord, why is Your card so empty? Why are there no titles? You are the Lord of heaven and earth, the only begotten Son of God, the Savior of mankind. There are so many things that could be written!”Jesus simply replied, “Those titles are not the important thing. The important thing is, ‘I love you.’ Therefore, I give My name to you, so that through this name you may be saved. That is enough.”

When I first heard this story, I was deeply moved. The Lord Jesus truly “will not cry out or raise His voice, nor make His voice heard in the street.” Yet we ourselves often do only a little for the Lord, and quickly announce it everywhere, afraid that others may not know.

Then there is His gentleness. It is difficult to connect such tenderness with the identity of “the Lord who created heaven and earth,” because He is the One of whom it is said:

“A bruised reed He will not break,

And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish;

He will faithfully bring forth justice.”

This reminds me of how He chose the apostle Paul the Apostle.

May 31, 2026, was the day of the 74th Delegates Conference of the True Jesus Church Taiwan General Assembly. During the Holy Communion service after the conference, Chairman of GA Taiwan, Preacher Jian Ming-Rui shared with us from Acts chapter 9 about the calling of Paul.

He mentioned that when Paul was chosen by the Lord, he was “still” breathing threats and persecuting those who believed in the Lord Jesus. He was not faithfully serving God or living as a devout believer at that time. Yet the Bible says that “suddenly” a light from heaven shone around him and he was chosen.

The Lord’s “sudden” choosing came upon a Paul who was “still” weak and sinful. This is how God loves us. While we were still sinners, He loved us and chose us.

This made me think again about today’s verse: a bruised reed and a dimly burning wick. A reed is originally a worthless weed with little use. Once bruised, it seems even more worthless, almost like trash. The reed is like every one of us in this world. We were already without worth, and then became bruised even further—perhaps through painful experiences, serious illness, or even, like Paul at that time, because “the soul itself was sick.” Yet my Lord Jesus Christ did not despise such people. Instead, He gently lifted them up and saved them.

The dimly burning wick is like a weak worker of God. There was once fire within him. He once shone for the Lord. But for some reason, he became discouraged and weak. He no longer wished to serve, and in frustration wanted to leave the work of service behind. Yet the Lord did not simply blow out that faint flame. Rather, it is as though He covered the small flame with His hands, carefully protecting it and helping it burn brightly again.

Today, when we hear of even a little injustice, we quickly criticize others, expose them online, and strike them while they are down, wanting to destroy them completely. When we hear that a worker of God has become weak, we immediately try to uncover every fault from that person’s past. Why are we like this? There is nothing lovely in such behavior.

After reading this chapter, my eyes were filled with tears. I felt utterly unworthy, because the Lord Jesus is so gentle and humble. But what about myself?

“It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.” (1 Timothy 1:15–16, NASB 2020)

By Isaiah Kao