When Jesus entered human history, the Spirit of the sovereign Lord descended upon Him, identifying Him as the Messiah. Empowered by the Spirit, Jesus proclaimed good news to the poor, freedom for the hostages, and the release of those bound by sin and suffering. As God incarnate, Jesus spoke these realities into existence.
But Jesus also demonstrated these truths through His actions. He healed the brokenhearted, set captives free from darkness, and comforted those who mourned.
To those grieving in Zion, He promised a priestly or bridegroom’s crown of beauty, an anointing perfume of joy, and a beautiful garment of praise. These gifts are remarkable because they were offered in exchange for the ashes of sorrow, mourning and despair.
In our time, many are overwhelmed by the weight of suffering. Symbolically and literally, ashes have become a defining feature of our world. We witness the devastation of the California wildfires, the ruins of wars, and the lingering effects of trauma. Like ashes, these experiences are pervasive, destructive, and leave behind a lasting mark.
Yet, hope remains. Jesus’s promises endure. God is a God of action, and He calls us to participate in His redemptive work. While we may not be able to speak liberty with the authority of the Messiah, we can walk in His flow of freedom by advocating for the poor, the oppressed, and the imprisoned. We can follow Jesus’ example by tending to the wounded, seeking to liberate those bound by various forms of captivity, and offering comfort to those who grieve. We can work to free those covered in ashes.
We can also be witnesses to God’s ongoing work of restoration. The remarkable rebirth of Israel in its ancient homeland, as prophesied by Isaiah, serves as a powerful testament to God’s ability to bring life from the ashes of destruction. The prophesied next steps are impressive as holy worship will be restored to the land, led by the priests and ministers to be a blessing for all the nations.
For reflection:
- Can this same compassion be seen in my own life? In the way I spend my time? The way I budget my money? The way I treat my family or coworkers? Is my life marked by the generous compassion of jubilee, or by a practicality that doesn’t want to disrupt the status quo?
by Tim Tesch
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