The prophet Isaiah lived in the 8th Century BC, about 700 years before Jesus. He prophesied, in Isaiah 9:6, with great joy, that Jesus would be born – “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.”
Jesus Himself read from the book of Isaiah one day. Luke 4:18 – 21 confirms to us that when Jesus was in the synagogue, He read from Isaiah 61 – “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 favour.” Then He rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on Him. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
Jesus was speaking a prophecy. When we come to Christmas, we realize again the words Jesus read from Isaiah, and we realize WHY He came! He came to preach the Good news to the poor, to proclaim freedom for those imprisoned, sight for the blind and recovery to those who are oppressed…to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour. The year of the Lord’s favour was a year of jubilee, given to protect the Jewish people, when every 7 years their debts were cancelled. (Deut. 5:1,2) In Deut. 15:12 – 14 we see that slaves were also freed every 7 years.
God spoke to Isaiah to declare this freedom. God is ready to cancel ALL our debts, ready to set us free from bondage, to give us LIFE! Our debt is paid, we are free! God writes off our debts…THAT is WHY He came, WHY He died for us, to restore our lost inheritance, to give us life!
Isa. 61:1-2 helps us to realize that this Christmas we too need to preach the good news to those who are poor in spirit. We need to bind up the broken hearted, proclaim freedom for the captives, release those imprisoned in darkness and lead them to the Light, to comfort those who mourn and to celebrate JESUS!!
Isaiah 61:3 continues to tell us that when Jesus comforts those who mourn, He also gives us “A crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness/joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. And we will be called ‘oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His good splendour.”
In the Bible, oak trees are consistently used as symbols of certainty and confidence. Oak trees have deep roots – rooted in Christ! Thus, the poor, those who are broken-hearted or under bondage, are turned into oaks of righteousness — people that are sure and confident. This happens only because of the ”planting of the Lord” because only He can help us to blossom. Do you feel like an ”oak of righteousness”? This passage reminds us that if we want deep roots and want to grow strong and firm, we need to go to Jesus.
Precious, most blessed Jesus, thank You that You gave up glorious and wonderful heaven to come down to a sinful world to redeem us, save us and set us free from the bondage of slavery of sin and deceit. Help us to remember and celebrate YOU first and foremost in all the busyness this time of the year brings. May we stay focused on You and WHY You came. We love, adore and worship You, our Great I AM, our Good Shepherd, Priest, and Prince of Peace.
Myrtle Turunen