Thoughts on Isaiah 61

Isaiah 61 has long been one of my favorite passages in all of Scripture. There is so much promise, so much hope in this passage.

This is also the passage that Jesus chooses to quote in Luke 4 as he announces his public ministry here on earth. There's something sacred in that, out of the whole of written Scripture, it was this passage that Jesus felt best captured His mission. As we all seek deeper ways to follow Christ, a commitment to live out this verse is a great place to start.

As I was reading this passage again last week, however, I had one of those "a-ha!" moments. I was reading along through verses 1 - 3 and absorbing all of the directives and mandates given prophetically to Christ (and subsequently to us as His followers) and realized that, just because He was sent to DO all of these things doesn't mean these things were always RECEIVED.

Just because He was sent to "preach good news to the poor" didn't mean the poor had ears to hear the Good News.

Just because He was sent to "bind up the brokenhearted" didn't mean the brokenhearted always trusted Him with their hearts.

Just because He was sent to "proclaim freedom for the captives" doesn't mean the captives walked out of their prisons.

You get the idea...

HOWEVER, for all those who WOULD receive these things, he promises a "crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garmet of praise instead of a spirit of despair."

And here was my "a-ha" moment: It is those who will RECEIVE this ministry of Jesus who will be called "oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor." Not everyone who "prays the prayer" gets to be an oak! Only those who receive the FULL work of Christ.

You see, Christ didn't just come for our forgiveness, He came for our restoration! Forgiveness is just the doorway. In fact, "forgiveness" isn't even mentioned in this passage. It is assumed as a sort of "first step".

Then, for all who receive this full work, this is what we get to be a part of:

We get to "rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated" and "renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations." We will be called "priests of the Lord" and "be named ministers of our God." There is no way we can rebuild the foundations of ancient ruins if we refuse to examine our own foundations or not allow Christ to restore the devastation of generations past.

(There is a whole other line of teaching concerning this rebuilding, restoring, and renewing that I could follow in regards to what God seems to be doing in the Church these days that I will save for a later time)

I can say with certainty that I don't want to be a part of anything less than God's restorative mission in this world. "Status quo Christianity" that allows me to stay in my brokenness and captivity while "appearing" to have it all together holds no interest for me whatsoever. There is simply no restorative power in that "gospel".

The act of receiving all that Christ has for us is not always comfortable - it is often painful and is always disruptive to the things that have seemed to make life "work" for us. Exposing the ways we have literally been "godless" in the way we approach our life is often the way He gets us to see our own neediness. I've learned through the years that its much better to submit to this process than have this process thrust upon me out of God's love for me...He loves me too much to leave me as I am.

The blessing and the invitation to join God in His larger story of rebuilding and restoration far outweighs the healing pain of walking through our past and all the brokenness therein. But it is ultimately each individual's choice.

Just because Christ was sent to bring us healing, freedom and Good News doesn't mean we always receive it.

But the adventure waiting for those who do is beyond description!