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;
3 to grant to those who mourn in Zion—
to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.
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.
5 Strangers shall stand and tend your flocks;
foreigners shall be your plowmen and vinedressers;
6 but you shall be called the priests of the Lord;
they shall speak of you as the ministers of our God;
you shall eat the wealth of the nations,
and in their glory you shall boast.
7 Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion;
instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot;
therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion;
they shall have everlasting joy.
It's Christmas Eve! We hope you are able to be with loved ones this Christmas and that God's love, peace and joy abound in your life this Christmas and always!
This passage highlights something interesting: good news.
When you watch the news the broadcasters on NBC, ABC, CBS, or whatever cable news channel you watch are not the ones actually doing the noteworthy things that make up the "news." They are simply delivering the news. They are the medium through which the news about what is happening in the community or the world is communicated to you.
In this passage the prophet Isaiah is declaring good news. He is not the one that is doing the noteworthy things of God. Instead, he is much like a broadcaster who is declaring the good and amazing things that God is doing!
When Jesus shows up and begins his ministry it is this passage that he says, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing" (Luke 4:16-21).
Jesus is the good news. Jesus is what God is doing. He lifts up the poor, heals the broken, and sets prisoners free. He is the presence and fullness of God's favor upon the earth to all people.
Why is that good news? Because it means that fixing this world does not depend on us! It is something that God is doing. God is doing noteworthy and amazing things. We can have faith that he loves us and is working out his plan in this world and in us.
While we humans do have the capacity to do good deeds and treat others with love and kindness. We still continue to hurt those we love dearly and do things on this earth that destroy life and make the world a worse place to live in. We need a savior and we need God to do what only he can.
That first Christmas was just the beginning!
Heavenly Father, we praise you as the shepherds did that first Christmas Eve for sending your Son to be our Savior and Lord. Give us faith to trust that you are working in us and in our world and help us to share your good news with all those around us. In Jesus' holy name. Amen.
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