Joy 12.6

Isaiah 61

Here we are in the second Sunday of Advent and we’re reading from Isaiah. Our Advent candle today is Joy. Perhaps as we start you’d like to ask yourself these questions… so why are we reading this text? What does it have to say to us in regards to Joy? What might it be saying to us within this season we find ourselves in? What does it say to you?

During this time of Advent when Christians celebrate the coming of the Christ child I think it is very easy for us to see the attributes named here, in Isaiah, as taken on by Christ. We see Christ take these on when the Spirit of God rested on him at his baptism. We see the tasks of Isa 61:1-3 become part of his new salvation. These are the hopes and dreams and expectations the Israelites carried with them for their messiah – their king!

We respond this season to what God has promised us. We celebrate the coming of the incarnate.
We rejoice in the coming of our heavenly king. We respond this season to what God has promised us. However while we are no longer required to rebuild the devastated temple in Jerusalem, we are required to build the Kingdom of God. We are required to build relationships. We are expected to take care of what we have. We are to nurture, to cherish, and to love.
Isaiah reminds us of the Lord’s character to love justice and hate robbery and wrong. And so we are challenged to think and reflect upon what this means for our time and our mission.

It is easy for us to attribute this passage to Jesus. We read in Luke 4 about the time when Jesus went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. As he stood up to read, the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

It is easy for us to hear this passage from Isaiah and think of Jesus. It’s easy because we are used to hearing it in light of Luke 4. Jesus then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. Everyone’s eyes in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."

Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing. Wow! Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

Wow, this is Jesus. This is what he was sent to do. This is why he came, during this season. He came to proclaim freedom. He came to restore sight. He came as a babe, born in a manger to speak on behalf reconciliation. He came to renew, restore, sanctify and set free. He came as our propitiation. He stands as our counselor.

This is who Jesus is. This is who my Jesus is. This is who my king is. He is the one who came in the form of a baby, pronouncing freedom to the captive and sight to the blind.
We come here today, in this season of Joy, expecting.

We expect great things from our God. Because our God is great! We expect great things of our families. We expect great things from this season… good food, gifts, friends. We come in this season of Joy expecting. We are expecting to celebrate the birth of Jesus. We are expecting… And what a day of rejoicing that will be.

Rejoicing. It makes me think of redo. There’s something about the “Re” at the beginning of a word. I can still hear coaches saying “No, that’s not right, you have to redo it.” “Redo it”. “Renew it”. Rejoice. Continue to rejoice.

We have something to rejoice about don’t we. Jesus is coming. The birth of our savior is imminent. The coming of Jesus, our redeemer, Jesus the freedom ringer, Jesus the Messiah, Jesus the anointed, Jesus the proclaimer, Jesus the sent, Jesus the son, Jesus the powerful, Jesus the comforter, Jesus our friend… Jesus, our Jesus. We have something to rejoice in. We have someone to rejoice in, and that someone is Jesus.

Did you know in the time of Isaiah, debt, more than hard crime, was the most common reason for imprisonment? It’s no wonder why they needed to hear someone had come to "proclaim release to the captives"! Today, in our society, how many feel trapped by debt, are "upside-down" in mortgages and carry huge credit card balances. You know and I know, they would love to be set free. Perhaps some of current debt is from our own frivolous spending; nevertheless, there are plenty who have burdensome debt from schooling, health bills, the costs of raising children, food and housing. Many of us hear talk of jubilee – the canceling of debt and the reversal of fortune, as good news. But actually we can find this good news also extends to the shared life of the world. Ancient Jerusalem after the exile, damaged and in ruins, in need of being rebuilt, is a powerful symbol of our cities today. It speaks of the world beyond our borders, where nations are held captive by enormous debt that keeps them from making progress toward a better life for their people.

I believe this is what Isaiah is talking about. I believe this is what Jesus came to do, be a part of,
impact. Our tiny little baby Jesus, all innocent and fragile in the wooden stable crib has come to flip the world on its head. He has come to bring hope. He’s come to bring joy, and peace and he’s come to bring love.

“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor…”

What would you say if this happened? Is it possible? What would we do if in this season, this year, the brokenhearted and the captive were released and found freedom. Wouldn't that be good news, a source of joy, something to shout about? Wouldn't it be something to remember!

Let's look at this from another angle. Perhaps we can look at this chapter from Isaiah from another perspective. As Christians we often automatically assume Isaiah 61 refers to a person… ie Jesus. But in actuality for the Jews it was as much about the expectations of the coming messiah as it was a metaphor for their nation, their community. The personal reference to the "servant" is both an individual and a "community" and this ambiguity is intentional.
So while we can read this passage and immediately hear Jesus in it… perhaps we should also hear it in regards to ourselves.

As Christ’s ambassadors, as his hands and feet, I believe it is through us that this scripture is fulfilled today! We, in full confidence can proclaim this passage from Isaiah as our own. Christ came to give us life, that we may have it more abundantly. Jesus called us to step out of the boat and walk with him through the dusty streets and the uncharted waters – offering his love and peace.

I believe we can proudly proclaim both individually and as the community this passage from Isaiah. I believe you should be able to hear me say it, and I should be able to hear you. “The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me, and you, to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent us to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor…”

This is who we are, this is what we’re to do. As the very ones who call ourselves followers of Christ, we must proclaim, we must release. We must be people about reconciliation, freedom, hope, joy, peace and love.

At the end of Matthew, Jesus came to his disciples and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
We’re not alone! Jesus is with us. Jesus is empowering us. When we are anointed by the Spirit, sanctified by his blood, we are called to step out. We are called to walk as he walks, love as he loves, support, encourage, give, and restore. The Spirit of the Lord is here, ready to anoint. Are you ready to proclaim good news to the poor? Are you ready to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and restore sight to the blind? Are you willing to set the oppressed free? Are you excited to proclaim this the year of the Lord's favor?

I believe this is what we are being asked to do. In this season of Advent, as we prepare for the celebration of the birth of our Lord, let us be filled with Joy. Let’s be filled with joy as we embark upon the road less traveled. As we journey through the sometimes confusing path of the upside down kingdom, let’s speak joy into this season and into our community. With its hurts and pains of loneliness and despair we must instill the joy of the Lord.

May the words of our Lord be true. In Luke Jesus says: this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing. May we be anointed by the Spirit of the Lord. May we proclaim good news to the poor, freedom for the prisoners, and restore sight to the blinded. May this year, this season, be one where we engage in God’s kingdom.

In this advent season, my hope is that we recognize our role in the building of God’s kingdom. As we celebrate the coming of our Lord, may we remember he is with us. As news reports carry on about the hardships of our economy, may we never forget who we are, where we come from, and what it means to be a follower of Jesus the Nazarene!

As you go, be anointed by the spirit, and active in your faith… go and Love!