Scrolls, labels, angels and a better way

He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

‘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.’  Luke 4:16-21

I love this passage. It’s a great story. No one knows anything about this Jesus. This is the first time he’s stood up and spoken in this way. In his home town as well – where people saw him grow up as a normal boy. And now he’s making a bold claim like this. He reads the passage, takes his time rolling up the scroll and sitting down – everyone is eagerly anticipating what he is going to say. No one could have been expecting this. He’s saying he is the answer. He’s saying these words were written about him. He’s saying that he is going to do all these things.

It’s a fantastic piece of story telling. And what makes it even better of course is that it is true. This passage from Isaiah 61 is all about Jesus. The Spirit of the Lord is on Jesus. He will proclaim good news for the poor. He will bring freedom. He will bring healing. He will bring forgiveness and redemption and a better way for all.

I love it!

The Isaiah passage goes on to say more. He will bring vengeance where it is due. He will bring comfort to those who mourn. He will bring restoration so the people can rebuild, restore, renew. He will take away any shame and disgrace.

Thank God for Jesus! For this new and better way. For this way back to relationship with God. For restoration and renewal. For a whole new life. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

God wants His people to be called by a new name. All those negative labels that others gave to them and they believed about themselves are to be forgotten. Names like Deserted and Desolate. Labels that reinforce a poor image of themselves. He now wants them to be called Hephzibah and Beulah –

for the Lord will take delight in you,
and your land will be married.  Isaiah 62:4

Now they will be called the Holy People. Now they will be called the Redeemed of the Lord.

Now they will be known as Sought After. The City No Longer Deserted.

Names and labels can drag us down and reinforce a negative image of ourselves. Now we are a new creation and we can be called new words. We can choose to believe the new story. No longer are we useless or disgusting or unlovable or boring or pathetic or whatever labels have stuck over the years. Now we are loved as the children of God! What are you now called before God? What are the labels you now own?

And all those who have hurt us over the years or hurt the ones we love – they will be held accountable for what they have done. All the evil that has been done in the world, all the suffering that has been caused – all that will be dealt with by God in His way and His time.

The rest of Isaiah 63 and 64 are prayer and praise to this amazing God (Paraphrased here by me) –

I will tell of the kindnesses of the Lord.
I will speak out about all the amazing things that God has done.
So many amazing things reaching back through the ages and for us right here, right now.

Because of His great compassion and kindness, we have always belonged to Him.
When we were distressed, He was distressed too.
And the angel of his presence saved them (what a beautiful, beautiful phrase).

Back in the early days of this journey, He rescued His people and lifted them up and carried them. All because of His great love and mercy. Yet they rebelled and wanted to go their own way. So God turned against them for a while until they begged Him to remember them again and reach down to them again.

God, you are our Father. Help us to follow you. Restore our relationship with you. Come down and make yourself known to everyone.

Since ancient times no one has heard,
no ear has perceived,
no eye has seen any God besides you,
who acts on behalf of those who wait for him. Isaiah 64:4

You’ve always come to the help of those who do the right thing, but how quickly we forget and slip into doing our own thing again. None of us can do this on our own. We’re all human.

But the fact remains and will always remain that God is our Father. Nothing can ever change that.

We are the clay, you are the potter;
we are all the work of your hand.  Isaiah 64:8

So God, please don’t be angry with us. Hear our prayers. We have made a right mess of everything. Look at the state our lives are in! Please come and help us sort it all out.