Joy in the Saviour Sent to the Brokenhearted

For The Citizen newspaper, December 15, 2023

     This coming Sunday marks the third in the part of the church year called “Advent”, the weeks leading up to Christmas – while also anticipating Jesus’ eventual return. Advent is about a Saviour coming - someone who can help us in our distress. The wonderful thing about Christ's incarnation is that He as Messiah has been injected into our human situation precisely at our point of need.

     If you watch the news or even just talk to people you bump into, you start to realize there's a world of hurt around us. A friend posts on social media about a dear parent having passed away. A fresh round of COVID and seasonal influenza is making many sick, including those more vulnerable in nursing homes. You don't have to go far to find people with problems: just have an open sensitive heart and listen.

     The Bible doesn't primarily address the issue of a theoretical world in the sky by-and-by; it addresses the real world we live in, broken, messed-up, and hurting as it is. God knows about our hurts, our predicament, and cares enough to get involved. We can see this reflected in one of the traditional Advent readings, Isaiah 61.

     Verses 1-7 contain words that reflect common global burdens: poor, brokenhearted, captive, prisoners, mourn, grieve, ashes, despair, ruined cities, shame, disgrace. Change the technology a little bit and you might say the kind of world the prophet spoke to 7 centuries before Christ – nearly 3000 years ago – was the same world we live in today. People were carrying on as sinful people do, causing hurt intentionally and unintentionally; evil, sickness, and death were as destructive then as now.

     Isaiah's not being melodramatic or exaggerating how bad things are. His book is very true to the situation after Assyria then Babylon invaded Israel and Judah: cities were burned, people had been killed or deported – the term 'devastated for generations' would be quite accurate. Yet, God in His sovereignty through the Holy Spirit is at work. It's not just going to get left that way. Yahweh is a saving God – that's the essence of Jesus' name – and His ultimate deliverance is cause for hope and joy.

     The word "Christ" is a title in Greek translating the Hebrew word "Messiah" or "Anointed One". Anointing with oil was the traditional way prophets, priests, and kings were consecrated to their role in the Old Testament. Here in Isaiah 61 the speaker is anointed though with more than oil, and for more than one task; "The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to...” [and then follows quite a list, what Messiah's for]. (v.1) But note the anointing – with God's Spirit rather than oil. This came true at Jesus' baptism; John the Baptist testified, "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him." (Jn. 1:32)

     Jesus applied this Isaiah 61 passage to Himself more than once; He identified Himself as the One the prophet foretold. For example, at the synagogue in Nazareth in Luke 4(18f), He read it aloud, rolled up the scroll, and remarked, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." Later when John the Baptist in prison sent messengers inquiring, "Are you the one who was to come?" Jesus answered that they should report back to John what they saw: "The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor." (Mt 11:5) A direct echo of Isaiah's prophecy.

     In Luke's account, Jesus' public ministry begins with this Isaiah 61 passage being read at Nazareth. In Matthew's gospel, it's the Beatitudes instead; but even there in Mt. 5(3f,6,11) you can see the same sort of effect: "Blesses (or, happy) are the poor in spirit...Blessed are those who mourn...Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness...Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me." The world is a tough place, and Messiah has come to make a difference in our mess. Knowing Jesus provides comfort and assurance no matter what heartbreak you may be facing.

     The prophet says Christ will 'proclaim freedom for the captives': speaking to the Jews who believed Him, Jesus likened sin to a type of slavery and said that if they hold to His teaching, "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free...So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." (Jn. 8:32,36) Maybe there's some addiction or craving or tendency trying to trap you, it's taking control of your life: Christ has power to set you free from what would reduce you to the gutter.

     Isaiah proclaims "release from darkness for the prisoners..." (v.1) A sinful or carnal outlook on life is a dark mindset, focused on deceptive idols. Paul says Jesus called him to be an apostle "...to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'" (Ac. 26:18)

     The Isaiah 61 passage continues, "to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour..." Paul wrote to the Corinthians in view of what Jesus had accomplished, "I tell you, now is the time of God's favour, now is the day of salvation." (2Cor 6:2) Have you opted to take God up on His favourable offer rather than His approaching wrath? Jesus has done you a huge favour by paying your way.

     It says Messiah will 'comfort all who mourn.' (v2) Knowing Jesus, Paul could write that ‘the God of all comfort’ "comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God." This happens as "through Christ our comfort overflows" (2Cor.1:4f).

     And it says Messiah will "provide for those who grieve" by bestowing beauty, "the oil of gladness instead of mourning..."  (v3) Jesus' death and resurrection offer real hope and consolation for those who grieve. Jesus told His followers, "I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices.You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy... Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy." (Jn.16:20,22) When we truly encounter the Resurrected One, death no longer is the last word.

     Looking back at Isaiah 61, we can see that Jesus has checked off the list – each of the Messianic predictions in Isaiah 61 has its fulfilment in the New Testament as a result of His coming.

     So, where does that leave believers - just sitting around soaking up heavenly joy-juice, oblivious to this world of hurt that surrounds us? Would we have even had a Messiah if Jesus had just stuck around heaven soaking in the eternal loving fellowship of the Father and the Holy Spirit? No – His joy spilled forth, it wanted to be shared.

     Isaiah says those bestowed with the oil of gladness "will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendour." (v3) We're to broadcast God's goodness, display His glory to others. Jesus said, "This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." (Jn.15:8) Don't be closet-Christians – others won't get to see God-in-you that way. Paul prayed His converts would be "filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God." (Php 1:11) What opportunities do those around have to see the fruitfulness of your spirituality – or is that hidden away in a 'Sunday morning only' compartment?

     A reporter once asked Mother Teresa where God was when a baby died in a back alley in Calcutta. She replied that God was right there suffering along with the baby; then added [I'm paraphrasing], "What's more to the point, where were you?"

     We receive joy, we are comforted so that we in turn may comfort others with the same comfort we've been blessed with through faith in Christ. Share the joy of knowing Him whatever way you can!