Fifty Two Weeks / Isaiah 61

WWJP?

Several years ago the Christian merchandising was all abuzz with the What Would Jesus Do craze. Christians wore their WWJD bracelets and tees and jewelry to remind themselves to ask this important question prior to making a decision or taking an action. It’s a good question and a good idea. The only problem was that most of the time what Jesus would do ended up looking suspiciously like what the individual asking the question would have done anyway. 

Today’s passage answers, in fairly objective terms, another important question. What Would Jesus Preach? It was this portion of the scroll of Isaiah from which Jesus delivered His first public sermon; thus setting the tone for is ministry.

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,

      because the Lord has anointed me

      to proclaim good news to the poor.

      He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

      to proclaim freedom for the captives

      and release from darkness for the prisoners,

       to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.

 He famously stopped in the middle of a sentence instead of adding, “and the day of vengeance of our God.” There is plenty more wonderful stuff in this chapter but since this is a blog and not a book let’s just focus on what Jesus used to define His ministry.

The Spirit

First and foremost Jesus (as did Isaiah before Him) acknowledged that His ministry was powered and directed by the Spirit of the Lord. Flesh can only give birth to flesh. Spirit gives birth to spirit. The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. 

I once heard a preacher say, “I’d rather be a step in from of the Holy Spirit than a step behind.” Wow. That was very American but diametrically opposed to what Jesus would do.

Every carrier of the gospel, whether vocational or layman, needs to understand that unless our actions are directed and empowered by the Holy Spirit they can accomplish exactly nothing for God. All we can do in ourselves is get in the way.

The Poor

The poor don’t get much good news. The world thinks that wealth is generated by the wealthy. What’s good for the rich is what’s god for all, but somehow the poor don’t ever seems to get in on any of that kind of “good”.

Jesus came first and foremost to the poor. He didn’t use the poor to build a political majority, or the cause of the poor to attract donations from the rich. He didn’t come to “use” anybody. He came to give and the poor were first on His list. 

The Brokenhearted

The brokenhearted come in all shapes and sizes and their situation stems from many different causes. We have a tendency to want to ask questions. “Why are they brokenhearted? Did they bring it on themselves? Do they deserve it? Are they just weak?” Jesus did not come to play Twenty Questions with the brokenhearted. He came to put them back together and heal their brokenness. 

This is expanded upon in Isaiah forty-two where the prophet is describing the Servant of the Lord. Verse three says, “ A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.” In other words, He will not just toss aside one seemingly broken beyond usefulness, nor will He write off one whose useful flame has been replaced by smoldering annoyance. He came to bind up the brokenhearted.

The Captive and Prisoner

When Jesus told the Jews that if they followed His teaching they would know the truth and be set free they replied by claiming, “We don’t need to be set free.” Typical. Jesus’ reply was simply, “Everyone who sins is a slave to sin.” Does that situation fit anyone? Everyone?

We all know what it is like to be captive to something. Lust? Fear? Anger? Greed? Food? Drugs? Prejudice? Pride? Envy? Jealousy? This list is by no means unabridged. 

Most of us tend to either think that particular thing to which we fall captive is the worst of all, or we are blind to our own captivity and judgmental of the “weaknesses” we see in others. If we fall into the first category Jesus has a word for us, “Freedom.” If we fall into the second group Jesus wants to release us from the darkness we are mucking through. If we want to minister like Jesus we will come out of our darkness and proclaim freedom.

The Year of the Lord’s Favor

In a prophetic sense a “year” is not strictly speaking 365 days. The term is poetical and stands for a season. We don’t know how long the season will last and we don’t exactly know what follows it. We do know this. We are in the season of the Lord’s favor. This season started with Christ and is the message of His gospel. He proclaimed it and we are to proclaim it as well. Yes, there will be a “day of vengeance” of our God but when contrasted in a poetic fashion I think a “year” carries a lot more weight than a “day”. 

And finally… 

This chapter is another of those in Isaiah where you should just read and soak and envision. Beauty for ashes. The oil of joy for mourning. A people who are mighty oaks and who rebuild ancient ruins. 

He also says that we will be called “Priests of the Lord” and “Ministers of our God”. Obviously, if we are going to be ministers of the Lord God it would be a good idea to consider WWJP.