Proclaimed

Isaiah 61:1–2 ESV

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn;

This ultimately describes all of us - not necessarily physically

However not many of us might see ourselves this way

poor - not just financially - poor in spirit - oppressed

brokenhearted - how many of us feel this @ Christmas time

Captive/bound - All of us fit here for sure

In Luke 4 as Jesus stands in the Synagogue of his hometown to read Scripture he is handed the scroll with what we know as Isaiah 61

This might be why this passage is familiar

After reading it Luke records Jesus sits down and with all eyes on him states,

“Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

This of course stirred up things, “Is this not Joseph’s son?”

Jesus gives a strong rebuke to those there and things blow up

Like trying to have a discussion about politics around the Christmas table

But What was Jesus saying with this statement?

Most likely for Israel this statement was understood as a promise of freedom from captivity and exile

The expectation was the same in the world that Jesus was born into

Beauty of Biblical prophecy is it often speak of the then, now and the future

So when Jesus was born…there had been a period of God’s favor restoration of Jerusalem and temple

his birth was the beginning of a period of God’s favor

For Israel God had come to be with them

They didn’t get this because their circumstances didn’t change

WE can have this same view of God - he is good if he changes my circumstances...

They missed the now for the future

God was with them -

There struggle was that God would not be with them as a man/human

But if not then we struggle with the idea that God can’t understand us, what our life is like, our hardships.

This is the first part of the good news...

Here’s the other part:

proclaim....the day of vengeance of our God

Why?

to comfort all who mourn

This is God’s justice - to set things right

If we read further in Isa 61 - we see God’s promise is to the restoration and rebuilding of Israel

vs 8

What’s interesting is that when Jesus reads this passage in the synagogue he left off this part.

Because he came to make the everlasting covenant, to show the life of God, to walk among humanity, that all might be saved

This was the opportunity for Israel to walk with their God, many missed it, but some believed.

This invitation for Israel, now stands for us all, that’s why Jesus was born

“Come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden”

Revelation 3:20 ESV

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

The invitation is to walk together with God for his glory and bring about his justice through our lives

Advent reading

Jesus’ proclamation of his fulfillment of these words of Prophecy still sound today

Not only can we experience God’s love, acceptance, life and purpose now

But this prophecy hold hope for our future

This prophecy will ultimately be fulfilled the next time Jesus comes to earth

That’s why Isa 61 ends with this vs 11

The proclamation of the Messiah, Jesus, was the proclamation that in him and through him all things have changed

In the end being restored to what God meant it to be.

“I am the light of the world..”