"The Spirit of the Lord is Upon Me"

 

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor."

 

            A week ago we helped to pack meals at the fairgrounds for "Feed My Starving Children." The goal for the whole weekend was 800,000 meals, and that meant that each 2-hour shift packed enough food to feed about 230 children for one year. This is a very well organized ministry, and when meals are packed they have been paid for and they are already committed to go to some feeding program in the world where there is severe malnutrition among children. So when you leave you feel good about what you have done with part of your Saturday morning. (They also tell you to feel good about what you have done.) But I think you also have to realize that you are only a small part of a very large task, and that others do the difficult work. It is best to see it as simply one entry point into the greater call of God.

            The vision of God for the world is vast and comprehensive. Isaiah 61 puts words to that vision. But who is able to carry out this call? Who is capable of making this vision a reality? Who is up to proclaiming Good News to the poor, when the poor hear so much bad news every day? Who is skilled enough to bind up the brokenhearted when the healing of broken lives is such a complex and time consuming task? How can captives become truly free, especially after they have been released from prison? Who is able to heal the wounds of mind and heart that they carry? Who is able to bring light to the darkness of prisoners locked in a dungeon, whether that is a prison or a condition of depression or the darkness caused by sexual abuse or the trauma of war? Who is able to meet such vast and growing needs?

            When the prophet spoke this vision of God, Judah was going through a very painful and difficult time. The exiles had returned home from Babylon. But now they faced small crops due to drought, internal divisions and bickering between leaders, the exhausting labor of rebuilding whole cities, and the hostility of the surrounding nations. In the midst of their struggle, the people heard a Word from God, a vision of a coming time when Good News would be proclaimed and they would be healed and praise would replace despair. They listened with joy and hope. But, who would pick up the call? Who would act upon the vision? John Oswalt points out that this vision could not be carried out by a human prophet, or a king or even the community of Israel. It is too vast and deep. This vision must be the work of the Messiah. "He will make of his people what they cannot make of themselves."  

            In Luke chapter 4 we read of Jesus embracing the vision of God found in Isaiah 61. He went to Nazareth and on the Sabbath took the scroll and read in the synagogue, "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." And then he said, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." The people were amazed at what he said because in all the intervening years, no one had attempted to carry the vision found in Isaiah 61.

            Jesus carried out a ministry of healing, a ministry of setting people free from evil spirits, a ministry of calling people to know and trust the goodness of God.

            The Good News is found in the cross and in the resurrection of Jesus. This is where the broken people are healed, the prisoners see the light, and the troubled spirits find the comfort of God. Next Sunday we begin our Christmas program by using this hymn:

"Break forth, O beauteous heavenly light, and usher in the morning;

Ye shepherds, shrink not with affright, but hear the angels' warning.

This child, now weak in infancy, our confidence and joy shall be,

The power of Satan breaking, our peace eternal making.

Break forth, O beauteous heavenly light, to herald our salvation;

He stoops to earth, the God of might, our hope and expectation.

He comes in human flesh to dwell, our God with us, Immanuel,

The night of darkness ending, our fallen race befriending."

             Are you hearing the Good News proclaimed by Christ? Will you receive the salvation that he offers?

            Next comes a vision of prosperity, in verses 4-9. People who struggle financially dream of prosperity, but often the dreams are simply of riches, and not the true prosperity that the Lord provides. This vision begins with the renewal of ruined cities. This includes the rebuilding of the temple and of their homes. There is in God's heart a vision of a vibrant spiritual life in every community, so that worship of God is the center of the city life. In this city there is also adequate housing, and all who dwell there are safe.

            In verses 5 and 6 we see the ability of landowners to hire workers. This brings relief from unending labor and also provision for others. There is work for the sojourner and alien in the land. So we see a picture of economic justice. This rebuilt community provides work for its people.

In verses 7 and 8 we see people rejoicing in their inheritance. So often we observe the spoiling of generational wealth. People who receive an inheritance often waste it, or spend it foolishly and it ruins their lives. But here the inheritance brings rejoicing. This is surely a heart issue, not just a financial one. This speaks of conversion. Christ enters a life and then becomes Lord of all that we have been given, whether money or values or character. He causes us to become generous.

          Here is the reward of the Lord. It is not to inherit wealth, but to find a relationship of love and faithfulness with God who is near. This is what it means to be a people whom the Lord has blessed. The world does not need more rich people to pile up wealth. The world does not need more powerful people to insist on their way. The world does not need more celebrities, TV personalities or athletic champions. The world needs more people blessed by the Lord. That is because the blessing of the Lord is always shared, always used for the Lord's work, for the accomplishment of His vision.

            In verses 10 and 11 we see the vision of a rejoicing soul. Jesus also picks up this part. He worked so closely to people who were sick, lame, demon possessed and lost. Sometimes the press of the crowds was too great for him. Sometimes he had to get away and pray all night in a lonely place so that he could bear the strain of caring for the needs of people. Then he bore our sin on the cross. Yet, in all of that Jesus always carried the joy of the Lord. He knew the goodness of God. He called people to get to know his father in truth. He invited people into the joy of the Lord. Zacchaeus the crooked tax collector did not weep over his many sins. He rejoiced in his repentance, because he finally came to know God as He really is. Through Jesus people find the goodness of God.

            This is the joy of the season: to know God and his goodness. The vision ends with the image of a wedding. In the ancient world a wedding took many days. For about a week, the men and women met in separate locations in a time of feasting and celebration. Then the groom would send a fine wedding dress to the house where the bride was staying. At the right time, she would put on this beautiful, new garment, and walk escorted to the groom's house, where the wedding took place. In Christ, we are the bride, clothed in garments of salvation and righteousness, walking on the road to the dwelling of Christ, the Kingdom of God. We sing as we walk. We are filled with joy.

            The New Testament uses the same image. In Ephesians, Paul says that you are the bride of Christ "without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless." In Revelation 19:7-8 John writes, "For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." And I Thessalonians 5:23-24: "May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it."

            Amen.