Anticipating Easter

Dear Friends,

Isaiah 53, sometimes called the gospel of the Old Testament, on which we will be reflecting at the service this Friday, describes with uncanny specificity not only the death and resurrection of Jesus but also the freedom we have received as a result of his sacrifice. Today, I want to talk about the second part of chapter 52, which is assigned as Friday's reading and which sets the stage for the stunning events laid out in chapter 53.

Jerusalem has been commanded in vs. 1-3 to wake up and get dressed for a great celebration because she has been redeemed, that is, she has been bought out of slavery. Jerusalem represents here not only the people of Israel but all who desire to be redeemed by the Lord. (Remember that, in Jesus, circumcision is of the heart rather than the flesh. So, though v. 1 may seem to exclude those who are not Jewish, no one is excluded who desires to know and serve God!) We are told nothing about how we have been redeemed other than that is is not with money. That is, this purchase has not happened in any conventional way. Something else has happened, thought we do not yet know what. Then beginning in verse 7, a scene is painted of a runner coming to proclaim good news of deliverance from God.

How beautiful on the mountains

are the feet of those who bring good news,

who proclaim peace,

who bring good tidings,

who proclaim salvation,

who say to Zion,

“Your God reigns!”

Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices;

together they shout for joy.

When the Lord returns to Zion,

they will see it with their own eyes.

Burst into songs of joy together,

you ruins of Jerusalem,

for the Lord has comforted his people,

he has redeemed Jerusalem.

The Lord will lay bare his holy arm

in the sight of all the nations,

and all the ends of the earth will see

the salvation of our God.

- Isaiah 52:7-10 (NIV)

The cry telling Jerusalem to wake up is apparently raised by the watchmen of the city who see the runner coming and and begin shouting with excitement. Redemption has been accomplished, and God is about to reveal his his arm to the world. The reader, who has been placed in the shoes of those waking to the joyful cries of the watchmen, is encouraged to wonder how this redemption has been accomplished and who it is that God is about to reveal to the world. As we anticipate the Easter celebration this coming Sunday, Iet's allow the words of Isaiah to stir in our hearts this wonder and expectation.

A simple prayer for this week:

Love in Christ,

Michelle