Jubilee

-


Scripture: 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;

  2     to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,

and the day of vengeance of our God;

to comfort all who mourn;

 

Devotion:

           

            Our scripture from Isaiah today is the scripture that Jesus quoted at the beginning of his ministry. (See Luke 4) In Luke’s gospel Jesus tells his hearers in the synagogue that he is the fulfillment of this scripture. What Jesus is saying that in him God is at last coming to the aid of his people. Jesus’ original hearers could not grasp all that Jesus came to do. They were looking only for deliverance from Roman oppression; however, Jesus came for all the nations bringing good news to all who would hear him.

 

            Isaiah in today’s reading provides words of profound hope. Although Jesus applied these words to his first coming, they also look forward to a time when Jesus will come again. Again, we have the theme of hopeful waiting during this season of advent. We know that we have received the good news that Jesus saves us from our sin. However, many are still brokenhearted, captive, imprisoned, and need to be rescued. Jesus’ work is not finished. Therefore, our work is not finished. We are to be Christ’s hands, feet, and voice in our world today. Bringing hope to the last, least, and the lost.

           

            What Jesus was proclaiming here was the Israeli hope for a year of Jubilee. When the debts would all be canceled, and the slaves set free. It was a wonderful idea that God offered to Israel in the Hebrew scriptures. They had however, never practiced it that we can tell from scriptures. Jesus’ jubilee, likewise, is still awaiting final consummation. The nation of Israel and the Christian church all await the final jubilee.

 

The poor and the downtrodden can place their hope in a future that is full of promise. We celebrate Jesus’ coming at this time of year. We give each other gifts as tokens of our love for one another. Let us begin to celebrate the deep and lasting love of Jesus this year. Jesus will not, like all earthly gifts, ever break or wear out. The love of the Father for his creation is an amazing thing to meditate on. We need God’s help to love others as, in Christ, we have been loved. Let us pray:

 

Prayer:

            Lord, may we receive your gift of Jesus in this advent season. May we come to know Jesus more intimately than we have ever known him before. Help us through your Spirit to come to a deeper and sweeter love for Jesus and our neighbors than we have ever known before. Heavenly Father, thank you for all your gifts to us. May we not squander them but use them to proclaim to the world in word and deed your love for all humankind. Now be with us as we go out to live in your world. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Welcoming the Unwelcome

-
  Scripture: Luke 7:36-38 (NIV) 36  When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37  A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38  As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and poured perfume on them. Devotion:             First of all, some warnings to my readers. This post will exceed the 500 words I try to limit my posts. Second, this post will contain content people may find offensive or otherwise unfit for print. Please understand that my purpose is neither to offend nor upset but to provoke thought and, hopefully, respectful dialog.             We will use Luke chapt...
Read more

The Hatred of the World

-
Scripture: John 15:18-20 (ESV) 18  “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19  If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20  Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. Devotion:             This scripture is compelling. It explains what happened to Jesus and His disciples some 2,000 years ago. The message of God is rarely welcome news for the world. It calls out many of the culture's favorite practices for what they are: sin. Ever since Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, humankind has been adamant about trying to hide or excuse their sin. Sin causes a barrier between humans and God that humanity cannot overcom...
Read more

Reflecting on Reformation Day

-
  On October 31st, millions of Christians around the world celebrate Reformation Day, a commemoration of a pivotal moment in church history. It marks the day in 1517 when Martin Luther, a German monk and scholar, nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg. This act, challenging the practices and doctrines of the Catholic Church, ignited what we now know as the Protestant Reformation. The Courage to Stand for Truth Reformation Day calls us to reflect on the courage it takes to stand for truth. Martin Luther faced immense opposition and risked his life to speak against the corruption and abuses he saw within the church. His conviction was rooted in a deep understanding of scripture and a sincere desire to return to the teachings of Christ. As we remember Luther's bravery, let us examine our own lives. Are we willing to stand firm in our beliefs, even when it is difficult? Do we seek truth in God's word and let it guide our actions? Script...
Read more