Point of Grace Worship 12.14.25 – Advent 3 – “Coming Home for Christmas – A Home Un-broken”
Advent – A season of anticipation, preparation, waiting for what is coming – for Who came and is coming back.
“Coming Home for Christmas” means some beautiful things for all of us. It can also mean some painful things. Our experience of “home” although meant to be a place of wholeness, healing and restoration is in reality a place also tainted by wounding and brokenness in need of restoration and healing. The hope of the Christ-child is that through Him we are invited into a home “un-broken” now in part but in full when He returns.
Isaiah 61:1-3
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, 2 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.
This is the 5th Servant Song of Isaiah.
“The Suffering Servant of Yahweh who is “anointed” by Yahweh to bring salvation, hope and restoration to God’s people speaks for and about himself in these Songs. It was this song that Jesus used to launch and define His ministry and claim His place as the long awaited “Anointed One” of Yahweh – the Messiah – the Christ!
Luke 4
14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. 15 He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.
16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,19
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down.
The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him.
21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
Isaiah 61:1-3
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
to open wide (eyes) those bound shut
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn, and
to 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.
Responding to this “good news” to the poor – to us in need?
“Jesus, come in … … …
You get the last word!”
Amen
“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock.
If anyone hears my voice and opens the door,
I will come in … “
- Jesus -
Revelation 3:20