Isaiah 61: Then, here and now.

Is there anything more important, more compelling, more profound that we are called to do? More than bringing good news to the poor, proclaiming release and healing, to let the oppressed go free to proclaim God's work and favor here and now. Is there anything more important, more compelling, more profound?

This incredible piece of Scripture was first spoken by Isaiah – he spoke these words to a people in exile, cast out of their very land and homes, their identity ripped from them, their holy place – the Temple, destroyed. The people, Israel, tried to recover, but found themselves only standing in ruins, in devastation, trying to pull themselves up from their bootstraps they found themselves lost and alone and no where closer to wherever it was they were trying to get. This incredible piece of Scripture was made important and compelling and profound because of who was making the promises – God and because of who was hearing them – people hurting and lost and alone. So, with the promises of this God and the hurt of this people...Isaiah spoke from his anointing,

He has anointed me
     to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
   and recovery of sight to the blind,
     to let the oppressed go free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’ 

Is there anything more important, more compelling, more profound that we are called to do? Then to speak these promises of God to the hurt of people... to the hurt of the world.

These words are spoken a second time, by Jesus. A now grown man he returns to his childhood synagogue and is handed a scroll to read. These words of Isaiah are now spoken by our Savior and he speaks from his anointing and he speaks the promises of God. And the people are stunned and they turn and stare at this man who seems to be doing more than just repeating after Isaiah, he is doing more than just taking his turn reading Scripture in worship...and Jesus fills in the blank and he says,...‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’

The people who lost their homes, their identity, their holy place of worship have finally heard the good news, that their hope, their longing, their very souls will be fulfilled and have been fulfilled. Not the way they were expecting, not Israel becoming more Israel, not safety and security of a peaceful land, not a new Temple...but their hope, their longing, their very souls are fulfilled in this Savior, in Jesus.

Is there anything more important, more compelling, more profound that we are called to do? Then to speak the fulfillment of what God has promised?

Again and again and again this Scripture has been read, in worship spaces and places all around the world and in all kinds of settings and worship styles and languages these words first spoken by Isaiah and then spoken and fulfilled in Jesus are heard by people of faith, or people of not so much faith, or people wandering, or people homeless, or people lonely, or people trying to pull themselves up by their bootstraps...people all around the world who are not so different than the people who heard these words for the very first time.

So the promises of God, the coming of Jesus and the hurt of the world, the hurt of our homes, the hurt of our souls is what makes these promises so important, so compelling and so profound.

Is there anything more important, more compelling, more profound that we are called to do? More than bringing good news to the poor, proclaiming release and healing, to let the oppressed go free to proclaim God's work and favor here and now. The coming of Jesus to our world, the grace, truth and glory of our Savior...there is nothing more important, more compelling, more profound then this message, and this moment and our hearing of these words...

He has anointed me
     to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
   and recovery of sight to the blind,
     to let the oppressed go free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’ 

3 to provide for those who mourn in Zion—
   to give them a garland instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
   the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
   the planting of the Lord, to display his glory. 4 They shall build up the ancient ruins,
   they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
   the devastations of many generations. 

Isaiah 61:1-4