The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. 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 joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. (Isaiah 61:1-3 NIV)
Just like that, it’s over. Our Sunday School kids did a great job sharing the Christmas story with us. Thank you! It took weeks of memorizing and practicing. Now just like that, it’s over. Have you ever noticed in the Christmas story how quickly it’s over? Think of the shepherds. The angels appear to them. They run to Bethlehem. They see Jesus in the manger. They tell everyone about what had happened. And then? They go back to watching sheep. Just like that, it was over.
Doesn’t Christmas always go by too fast? I bet some of us are worried about that already. Christmas is still two weeks away, but you’re worried about December 26th. Or maybe you can stretch it out a little longer… So you’re worried January 2nd. Because Christmas is over just like that. And then? We have to go back to life. Ahhh! The post-Christmas let-down isn’t fun, is it?
That reveals a problem. If the moment December 26th rolls around, we feel let down, disappointed, like all the good stuff is over, then we haven’t actually celebrated Christmas. All the sentimental things that we do at this time of year are fun, but they don’t last. The trees come down. The relatives go home. The cookies run out. The presents get opened. And then? We need something deeper! What are we supposed to get out of Christmas that actually lasts?
Let’s let Jesus tell us. In these three little verses from the prophet Isaiah, Jesus himself talks to us. That’s amazing, because was Isaiah written before or after Christmas? Before! In fact, Isaiah lived 700 years before Christmas. Yet, in Isaiah, Jesus talks to us. How is that possible? Well, when did Jesus start? He was born as a baby on Christmas, but when did Jesus start? Forever. Jesus has been around forever with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. In these verses, Jesus—700 years before the first Christmas—tells us exactly what he came to do. As we study them, we’re going to use this phrase, “Because Jesus came…” Ready? “Because Jesus came…”
Jesus starts with this: “The Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.” Because Jesus came, there is good news for the poor. There’s a special word for the “good news” of the Bible. Know what it is? The Gospel. That’s what next Sunday’s sermon is about—the Gospel! Here’s a sneak peek: Jesus proclaimed, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). That is the Gospel! Jesus proclaimed, “The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). If you’re poor. If you’re sinful. If you feel like you have nothing, Jesus came to live and die and rise to save you. Whoever believes in Jesus is saved. That doesn’t end on December 26th. Because Jesus came, there is always good news for the poor. See how this works?
Here’s the next thing Jesus says: “He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted.” Because Jesus came, there is hope for the brokenhearted. Is that you? The good news of Jesus is what heals your heart. Sin breaks your heart. Sin makes you feel like there’s a piece of your heart over there and a piece over there, and you don’t feel like you can ever put it back together again. But Jesus can. He takes that piece and washes the sin away. He takes that piece and heals the hurt. Jesus came “to bind up the brokenhearted.” Jesus will never break your heart. Jesus will never let you down. Jesus will never leave you. Because Jesus came, there is hope for the brokenhearted.
And so much more. Jesus came to “proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.” Because Jesus came, there is freedom for the captives. How often do you feel like a prisoner? Do you ever feel like you can’t stop sinning, no matter how hard you try? Like you can’t get away from guilt, no matter how far you run? There are sins that especially trap us. Alcohol. Pornography. Anger. Bitterness. Despair. Jesus came to proclaim freedom for the captives! That sin that weighs down your heart? It’s forgiven. That vice that controls you? Jesus is more powerful. Jesus came to set you free. You don’t have to be a prisoner to anything anymore. Because Jesus came, there is freedom for the captives. That doesn’t end on January 2nd.
In fact, God sent Jesus “to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God.” Because Jesus came, this is the year of the LORD’s favor. In the Old Testament, every 50th year was a special year called the Year of Jubilee. Have you heard of that? In the Year of Jubilee, people sounded trumpets. Debts were cancelled. Slaves were set free. When is that year? Now is the year of the LORD’s favor! It might seem like this year has been a disaster. That’s not true. With Jesus, every year is a year of God’s favor. You don’t have to wait and hope that someday God will love you. He does right now! This might not be the year you get rich. This might not be the year you get better. But because Jesus came, this is the year of God’s favor.
That’s what dries your tears. Can you see this progression? Jesus proclaims the good news, binds up the brokenhearted, proclaims freedom and the year of the Lord’s favor, “to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion.” Because Jesus came, there is comfort for those who mourn. I once saw a heart-breaking news story. An 11-year old girl wrote a letter to Santa. Her grandparents had died in a fire, so she wrote: “I shouldn’t get presents. Can you stop my sadness?” Wouldn’t it be the best Christmas present if someone could take away sadness? There is! It’s not Santa. It’s Jesus! Remember his promise? “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain” (Revelation 21:4). I hope someone told that girl about Jesus! Because Jesus came, there is comfort for those who mourn.
Because Jesus turns our sadness upside-down. He “bestows on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.” Because Jesus came, funerals turn into weddings. It’s like you start the day dressed for a funeral —ashes, mourning, despair… And Jesus gives you clothes for a wedding party—beauty, joy, praise… Jesus takes your mourning at death and turns it into the joy of eternal life. He takes your despair at loss and turns it into praise at God’s grace. Jesus promised, “You will grieve, but your grief will be turned into joy” (John 16:20). Because Jesus came, funerals turn into weddings.
All of this leads up to a big climax. Ready? “They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.” Because Jesus came, you are like an oak tree! Huh? “Jesus is so good, he’s going to make you into a big tree.” “Yes! A tree? That’s what I’ve always wanted to be!” What? Well, imagine a big oak tree. How many storms has that tree weathered? How many changing seasons has that tree seen? Yet, it’s still standing. How? God put it there. God planted it. God made it grow. Just like you and me. Jesus makes you strong. Jesus gets you through every storm. Because Jesus came, you are like an oak tree. Isn’t that cool?
That’s it. That’s all that Jesus does. “Wouldn’t it be nice if Jesus did a little more?” Come on! This is amazing! Are you poor? Brokenhearted? Captive? A prisoner? Mourning? Grieving? Ashes? Despair? Then here is what Jesus has done for you: He proclaims good news. He binds up the brokenhearted. He proclaims freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners. He comforts all who mourn and provides for those who grieve. He gives you a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. Because he came, this is all true for you. Today. Tomorrow. Forever.
So what’s the catch? There’s got to be a catch right? What do we have to do? Scan these verses again. Do you see conditions? “He’ll bind up your broken heart, but only if you promise not to mess up again…” No! “He’ll give freedom to the captives, but just this once. There better not be a relapse…” Does it say that? No! “He’ll turn your morning into joy, but only if you’ve been a good little boy or girl…” No! There’s no conditions. This is God’s grace to us. Because Jesus came, there is good news for the poor, hope for the brokenhearted, freedom for the captives, because it’s the year of God’s favor. Because Jesus came, your mourning will turn to joy. Because Jesus came, God will give you strength for every trial of life. All because Jesus came!
That’s the heart of Christmas! All that sentimental stuff is nice, but it doesn’t bind up your heart. Jesus does. You can be all alone in your apartment with a candle on Christmas Eve singing Silent Night to yourself, and still have tears of joy stream down your face. Because Jesus came. It’s really true. Jesus came. He really saved you. You can put the tree away without a knot in your stomach. You can go back to life without a weight hanging on your heart. Because Jesus came! That changes every day of the year. Christmas is always over just like that. But Jesus is never over. There is always good news for the poor and hope for the brokenhearted. Because he came!
(To listen to this sermon on my Upside-Down Savior podcast, please click HERE. To watch this sermon on my Upside-Down Savior YouTube channel, please click on the picture below.)
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