This week’s devotions are based on the Week 3 “A Savior Born for You! (WATCH HERE)
‘Tis the season for lists.
A list of all the people for whom you want to buy presents.
A list of all the people to whom you want to send Christmas cards.
A list of all the things you need to pack for your Christmas travel.
A list of all the items you need to buy at the grocery store for Christmas cookies.
A list to keep track of all the lists.
I’m not good at lists and even if I have one, I often forget something that’s even been written on the list! Oftentimes the lists are too long and something has to be eliminated as “not important enough to do.” Or a list can be so long, you are paralyzed to even start the list.
As we reflect on the first verses of Isaiah 61 this week, verses 2-3 have quite a list. The “Servant” of whom Isaiah spoke said he was anointed and sent to preach good news. OK, that’s not too hard. What’s the news and I will share it. One item on the list…no problem. But the list doesn’t stop there. The Spirit of God had more for the “Servant” (Jesus) to do. Here’s the list:
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
Perhaps if you would make it a list:
Jesus’ “To-do” list:
- Bind up the broken hearted
- Proclaim freedom for the captives
- Release prisoners from darkness
- Proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
- Carry out a day of vengeance for our God.
- Comfort all who mourn
- Provide for those who grieve
- Replace ashes with a crown of beauty
- Replace mourning with the oil of gladness
- Cloth people with a garment of praise instead of despair.
How would you do with a list like this? A bit overwhelming, right? Yet Jesus was willing to tackle this lengthy and important to-do list for each of us. We know he understood this was his responsibility as he read these words and identified himself as the fulfillment of them (See Luke 4 or yesterday’s devotion). While each task has its unique nuance, the reality of all of them is bringing the freedom, forgiveness, and certainty of our sins being forgiven and our relationship with God restored. From the moment of his conception, to his birth, to his ministry, to his trial, to his crucifixion, to his resurrection, to his ascension, Jesus was accomplishing all that his Father sent him to do.
I can imagine an interaction with the Father and the Spirit when he returned to heaven. “Did you get everything done on the list we gave you?” With certainty, Jesus answers, “Yes. Yes I did.”
Apply: Which “task” on Jesus’ list are you most grateful that he accomplished?
Prayer: Jesus, thank you for willingly taking on the to-do list the Father gave you so that I might enjoy all the blessings that come from your list being completed. AMEN.