Christ is Coming #16

Isaiah is full of prophecies about the coming Servant of the Lord, like in chapter 61: 

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,

    because the Lord has anointed me

to bring good news to the poor;

    he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim liberty to the captives,

    and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

2 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor,

    and the day of vengeance of our God;

    to comfort all who mourn;

3 to grant to those who mourn in Zion—

    to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,

the oil of gladness instead of mourning,

    the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;

that they may be called oaks of righteousness,

    the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.

In the New Testament, we find Jesus using the first verse of this chapter as evidence for John the Baptist to reassure him that Jesus was the Christ. By the time we get to the last verse, we find that the bottom-line blessing is Joy: people wearing party hats, having gladness, and praising and glorifying God. The Coming of Christ is something to be celebrated with great joy. May we do that more this week.