Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Introduction
These verses from Isaiah center around the themes of salvation and mission. As we speak of salvation (which comes from the same root as the word “save”), we need to ask the question, what are we being saved from? from God’s punishment? from the devil? from our own sins? from death? Each of these answers are valid in their own ways. For many Christians today salvation means “getting into heaven”, which is a way of saying that human being are saved from God’s
punishment (by being in heaven and not hell), from death (by being alive and not dead), and from sin and the devil (neither of which has power in heaven).
But think about it – this way of thinking about salvation leads to an understanding of the “mission” as the work of getting as many people as possible to heaven. “Who will be saved” equates with “Who will be in heaven”
Where we spend eternity is an important question but what about here and now?
What is salvation in Isaiah 61? It paints a more tangible picture for us for here and now. It is good news, healing, liberty, release and comfort. It is jubilee year, in which debts are wiped away, slaves are freed, fields are allowed to rest and land is returned to its original owners.
Salvation is imagined both as a restored city (v4) and as an abundant garden (v11). The nations of the world will see what God has done for Israel and will know “that they are a people whom the Lord has blessed” (v9). God’s deliverance is real, tangible and this-worldly. It can be seen by others.
Though eternity is the bigger picture, we must not lose sight of the ways in which God’s salvation is meant to also transform the world here and now. We as Christians are invited to participate in this kind of living, even in the midst of a world not yet fully redeemed.
Jesus came to fulfill and show the way
Fast forwarding 700 years – This scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Jesus. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed [Messiah] me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’ Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them, ‘Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.’” Luke 4:21
They were at first amazed at his gracious words. But later the crowd did not like the fact that Jesus reminded them that God had called them to be a special people so that they could be a blessing to the Gentiles. They resented the fact that God was willing to bless Gentiles instead of them, should they choose to reject Him.
We are blessed so that we can be a blessing to God’s people everywhere. If we have been given authority or power it is so that we can use that authority and power to preach good news, relieve suffering, release captives, and recount the story of Jesus to all His children.
All is not well
As we look at the world around us, we see brokenness. As we look around in our neighborhoods, we see brokenness. As we see within our own families or within our own selves, we see brokenness. We do not need to look too far to see the injustice of poverty, abuse, hunger, oppression and war As we look at creation, we see brokenness. As we look at the economic situation in our country and many other countries around the world. The unemployment rate, countries are under debt and unable to repay their loans. All around and within us is separation, alienation, and division.
Yet this is not the end of the story. Brokenness does not have the final say. Sin does not have the last word. There is hope. There is transformation.
Getting a grasp of the joy that is being offered to us
Our focus today is on joy. Isaiah looks ahead to the time when glad tidings will be preached to the sad and the sorrowful, to the depressed and the dejected. To “proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” was a promise of a joyful jubilee. This must have been good news to those who were grieving. The “garment of praise” would replace the sackcloth of sadness. Ashes represent anguish while oil stands for joy in the Bible.
Until we understand the depth of our depravity we won’t appreciate the good news of Christmas. We can’t appreciate amazing grace until we have first appreciated the fact that as wretches we deserve to pay the penalty for our sins. And great joy won’t come until the good news of the
gospel settles in our hearts. This good news is the best news possible!
I was thinking about the farmers in India especially from the state of Maharastra (where we both come from) and also Andhra Pradesh. Thousands of farmers each year take their lives in these two states. They find no hope and in complete despair they find an ultimate way out. Initially in the 90’s the government just plainly denied that anything like that was happening but later between 2005 – 2009 it caught a lot of attention from the media.
In all these years with the drought situation and all the debt racking up the farmers basically lost everything. They were convinced that there is no way out of this. Even if they get good rain and a good harvest they cannot see a way out because they are so deep into their debts.
Think of such a farmer who has exhausted all his options, lost all his hope, when he gets to hear this good news that all his debts are forgiven and is given a fertile land that will produce plenty of harvest. Think of his joy – that’s the kind of restoration God is talking about, that’s the kind of justice he wants to bring, that’s the joy that He is offering to us. But in order to understand and appreciate the good news and the joy that comes with it we need to first understand the depth of our depravity. It’s difficult to fathom the magnitude of this joy unless we really get the real sense of our own fallenness.
We all have great sorrows in our lives, some more than others. We all have disappointments in life. Jesus declares himself to be the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy, the one to bring good news, healing, and release. As we walk through the last days of Advent, we remember not just that Jesus came but why Jesus came – to usher in a jubilee celebration that would have no end.
And when we surrender the brokenness in our lives to the God who is creator and source of creation, piece by piece God fashions us into who God is calling us to be. Out of our brokenness comes transformation. This transformation is a process. Day by day we surrender our brokenness to the Potter’s hand. And day by day, God brings about the work of reconciliation in our lives.
How does mission look like in light of this passage?
Therefore how does being missional look like in light of this passage?
First, mission happens when we turn our attention to those who are named as recipients of the good news: the oppressed, the brokenhearted, the captives, the prisoners, the mournful, the faint of spirit. The text reveals God’s special concern for the lowest and the weakest. In order to participate in God’s mission of restoration, the people of God are sent first to those who most need to hear that God will provide for them and will redeem their losses.
Mission is not primarily something that goes out from God’s people – by sending money or sending missionaries – but something that defines God’s people, as existing for the sake of the oppressed, brokenhearted, imprisoned, and mournful.
Second, mission happens when the world notice that the people of God live differently, that “they are a people whom the Lord has blessed”. Twice we are told (v9, 11) that the nations will notice the blessing of Israel.
To be missional is to live as a people of good news, liberation, justice, and comfort in such a way that the world may take notice and be drawn to the ways of God.
Typically each year we invite the Indian families from the neighborhood for a Christmas get together. We desperately needed to find out a way to deal with the gifts that we received. People brought gifts even though we requested all respectfully to not bring any gifts. So from last year we said, ok, we will provide an alternative – please do not bring any gifts but if you like you could bring items for a charity and we picked a charity. This was really intriguing for some of the families. Even though this was not a big thing (in fact it worked more for our convenience) but it was going against the flow and when you go against the flow you are bound to be noticed.
I do not believe everything happens for a reason, but I do believe that God can transform any situation. God has a way of coming into our lives and transforming our brokenness. God comes in the midst of our brokenness and starts to make in us a new creation that is able to be purposeful, useful, and be about the work of God’s kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven. God lovingly picks up each potsherd, breathes on it new life, and gives it a place to belong.
Where is God’s transformation revealed today? What is God doing today in the lives of the people that offers hope and restoration to our broken world?
Zilpa is a poor village in a very remote area of Maharastra state in India. YFC runs a school there and we visited that place during one of our visits to India. The school started with only a few students because people there thought of school as bad; they thought it will bring evil to their
community. But one father who got convinced that he should send his child to this school said he was convinced by looking at their work and the committed people working there. Now the school has grown. One of the questions I asked the person who heads this place was – if they face any resistance or threat from the local Hindu groups. His response was that they do – but normally the villagers themselves chase them away. Some of these groups are politically motivated and are quite hostile to the mission work. The villagers have seen the work done there by God’s people
and they certainly see the positive change, a tangible change in their present lives. Even though this is a WIP but God’s redeeming work continues through his people.
So long as Christians live as divided people, known to the world as those who judge, fight, and exclude, the church will fail to be missional, no matter how much money it gives and how many missionaries it sends.
It is far easier to see the transformation of the secular world during this season of the year. Many of us get caught up in giving gifts, indulging in food and sharing the holiday traditions with our family and friends. Our homes, workplaces, and communities are transformed with bright
lights and Christmas music. Our schedules are suddenly transformed into tireless activities leading to near-exhaustion and fatigue.
That’s not the kind of transformation God is intending to bring. It better be more than this artificial change.
Closing remarks
In closing I like to share this quote by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
– please notice what he writes while in prison:
"Christ is breaking open his way to you. He wants to again soften your heart, which has become hard. In these weeks of Advent while we are waiting for Christmas, he calls to us that he is coming and that he will rescue us from the prison of our existence, from fear, guilt, and loneliness. Do you want to be redeemed? This is the one great question Advent puts before us.... But let us make no mistake about it. Redemption is drawing near. Only the question is:
Will we let it come to us as well or will we resist it? Will we let ourselves be pulled into this movement coming down from heaven to earth or will we refuse to have anything to do with it? Either with us or without us, Christmas will come. It is up to each individual to decide what it will be."
-oOo-
