The coming of Jesus brings true rejoicing -even under the cross of suffering.
Lord Jesus, we beg, and implore You to hear our prayer; to
lighten the darkness of our hearts by Your gracious visitation. Lord in Your
mercy – Hear our
prayer!
The road we walk by faith is not necessarily easy. At times
it’s difficult. Such was the experience of the 1st Century believers.
Dr Luke explains, “Strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging
them to continue in the faith reminding them ‘We must endure many hardships to
enter the kingdom of God.’” – Acts 14:22
At times life requires the astonishing patience of Job. Like
Job. You can rejoice. – Even amid suffering. When you face affliction. You
remain grounded in repentance under the cross of Christ. You hope relentlessly
in Christ’s resurrection so that you might see by faith as James teaches in our
Epistle lesson; “The purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and
merciful.” – James 5:11 Grounded in this Gospel, “Be patient.” “Establishing
your hearts, for the coming of the LORD is at hand.” – James 5:8
The question John asks is a question, which still needs to be
asked today. “Is this the Christ?”
John’s question is asked in faith. Thus. It is a good
question. Because of his office. John could not doubt. He sends his hearers to
Christ.
And Jesus answered, “Go. And tell John what you hear and see.” By the firm grasp of faith, when were they permitted to hear and see?
“The blind receive sight. The lame walk. Lepers are
cleansed. The deaf hear. The dead are raised. And the poor – are evangelized.”
The good news is proclaimed to them.
The blind now look up to see the expected Messiah. The One
who comes to visit His people.
Because Jesus has come. Now. You are raised up. Cleansed.
Healed. The good news of the Gospel is proclaimed to you.
The greater miracle is that this good news is preached to
you. This Isaiah proclaims. Promises of restoration are being fulfilled. “Hear
you deaf. And look you blind. That you may see.”- Isaiah 42:18
“Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened. And the ears of
the deaf unstopped.” – Isaiah 35:5
“In that day. The deaf shall hear the words of a book. And
out of their gloom. And darkness. The eyes of the blind shall see.” -Isaiah 29:18
“The Spirit of the LORD 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.” – Isaiah 61:1
The devil’s temptation has always been the same, “Did God
say?” – Genesis 3:1 He used it with our parents Adam and Eve. He continues
with the same to this day.
With deliberate words and actions. The Savior proclaims to
his hearers then. – And to you today. – Here is the coming one. Who arrives at
precisely the right time. To bear your sin. To carry you through every circumstance.
To be your Savior.
The coming of Jesus brings true rejoicing. Even under the
cross of suffering. Remember this. Your present circumstance is only a
snapshot. A moment in time. Of where you are today. They cannot define you.
Your present circumstances don’t determine where you go. They
merely determine where you start. Your present circumstances. Do not define
your future. And certainly.
Your circumstances do not dictate the strength of your faith.
If so. John would have been most pitied.
Especially in this Advent season we realize that Jesus, the
Son of God entered time and space to be your substitute. At the beginning of His public ministry.
Jesus entered the synagogue in Nazareth. Of all places. And read from
Scripture. The passage He chose was from Isaiah 61.
“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has
anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the
brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners; to
proclaim the favorable year of the LORD and the day of vengeance of our God; to
comfort all who mourn, to grant those who mourn in Zion, giving them a garland
instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise
instead of a spirit of fainting. So, they will be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.” – Vv.1-3
Jesus then told those present that He alone was the
fulfillment of this prophecy. For three years Jesus set the oppressed free. He
healed the sick. And ministered to the poor.
He released those who were captive to sin and spiritual
oppression. And at the cross called Calvary. There. Your sin became His. Your
burdens He carried. His lose now becomes your gain.
Jesus became sin for you. You were crucified with Christ. You
died with Christ. You were buried with Christ. You were raised with Christ. You
conquer with Christ. The atoning death of Christ changes all! Even in the midst
of suffering.
Passive Sentences –12.8%
Readability –80.2%
Reading Level -3.7
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