MESSIANIC BLESSING (3 OF 49)
Scripture: Isaiah 61:1-4, Isaiah 61:8, Isaiah 61:10-11
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Messianic Blessing (3 of 49)
Series: Lectionary, Year B
Christopher B. Harbin
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
It's not what we think. It's not what we were led to believe. It's not what people long ago expected. It may not even be what we want. We think we understand the concept of blessing. Do we really? It would seem at least Yahweh's working definition has fallen on deaf ears since the Babylonian exile. Do we have any better grasp than so many who have gone before us?
When Jesus began his ministry publicly, these words from Isaiah were the ones he chose to proclaim his identity and character as Messiah. The people of his home town had turned out to see the local boy grown up and garnering an audience throughout the countryside. When he used these words to proclaim himself the embodiment of Isaiah's expectations of blessing under the Messianic Reign, they could not make the connection.
Blessing to them meant the political overthrown of their Roman oppressors. Blessing meant an end to tyranny. Blessing meant peace. Blessing meant a violent, military, and political overthrow of those in power to usher in a new political system run by their own people. The words Jesus chose to focus on here had nothing to do with political revolt, rebellion, and taking the fight to one's enemies. They had nothing to do with partisanship, vilence, and destruction. They had to do with binding up those injured by violent action, caring for the maimed, granting hope to the oppressed, and releasing those held captive for economic or political reasons.
This Messianic reversal of blessing Jesus echoed focused on transforming the mourning of those who grieved into an occasion for celebrating. This good news was built not on violence, but on justice. While many of our translations like to use the term righteousness, in Hebrew the terms are one. To be righteous is to do the right thing. It is to enact justice, or to be just, is to do what is right, regardless of expediency or legal requi ...
Series: Lectionary, Year B
Christopher B. Harbin
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
It's not what we think. It's not what we were led to believe. It's not what people long ago expected. It may not even be what we want. We think we understand the concept of blessing. Do we really? It would seem at least Yahweh's working definition has fallen on deaf ears since the Babylonian exile. Do we have any better grasp than so many who have gone before us?
When Jesus began his ministry publicly, these words from Isaiah were the ones he chose to proclaim his identity and character as Messiah. The people of his home town had turned out to see the local boy grown up and garnering an audience throughout the countryside. When he used these words to proclaim himself the embodiment of Isaiah's expectations of blessing under the Messianic Reign, they could not make the connection.
Blessing to them meant the political overthrown of their Roman oppressors. Blessing meant an end to tyranny. Blessing meant peace. Blessing meant a violent, military, and political overthrow of those in power to usher in a new political system run by their own people. The words Jesus chose to focus on here had nothing to do with political revolt, rebellion, and taking the fight to one's enemies. They had nothing to do with partisanship, vilence, and destruction. They had to do with binding up those injured by violent action, caring for the maimed, granting hope to the oppressed, and releasing those held captive for economic or political reasons.
This Messianic reversal of blessing Jesus echoed focused on transforming the mourning of those who grieved into an occasion for celebrating. This good news was built not on violence, but on justice. While many of our translations like to use the term righteousness, in Hebrew the terms are one. To be righteous is to do the right thing. It is to enact justice, or to be just, is to do what is right, regardless of expediency or legal requi ...
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