Jesus knows how to confront. He issues a series of eight woes against the Pharisees and scribes, and they are very severe. When He is challenged, He often raises the stakes instead of qualifying himself. He knows what it’s like to attack and not back down.

In our sermon text, though, Jesus learns that the Pharisees are plotting to kill Him, and He withdraws. Matthew sees this as a fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy about the Servant who “will not quarrel, nor cry out” and who refuses to break a “battered reed” or snuff out a “smoldering wick.” In the middle of an escalating conflict, Jesus retreats.

Jesus’ withdrawal is not an act of cowardice. He does not withdraw because He is unconcerned about the injustices and sins of Israel. His withdrawal is part of His promotion of justice. He refuses to break a reed or stomp a smoldering wick “until He leads justice to victory.” Withdrawal, yielding, is a means to victory.

We find it hard to yield. If I back down, we say, he’ll get his way. If I back down, I’ll be a doormat. If I back down, my life will be miserable. If I back down, I’ll leave injustice unresolved.

But Jesus backs down, withdraws, and yields. In following Him we are often called to do the same. We are called to suffer injustice without response, to take our beating without hitting back, to receive insults without insulting in return.

But when we are called to withdraw, we should make sure that we withdraw in the interests of justice, not because we’re too lazy or too scared to confront. When we yield, make sure that you’re doing it in hope that through us God will bring His justice to victory.