Advent: The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord Is on Me

Advent is a season of anticipation, reflection, and hope as Christians await the coming of Christ. But hope that is seen … is no hope at all.

If we are honest, it can be very difficult to hope at times. Times when we see death and destruction all around us. Times when we experience backbiting, manipulation, greed, and the distortion of truth. Times when we feel another year slipping through our fingers. Times when we look … and see no progress.

But during Advent – both in remembrance of Jesus’ birth and the expectation of his return – we join with centuries of Christians down through history who have hoped in his good news. Central to this hope is the belief that Jesus is the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy, "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."

When Jesus begins his public ministry in Luke 4, he reads directly from Isaiah 61 in the synagogue in Nazareth. After finishing, he declares, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Luke indicates that Jesus deliberately chooses this passage to read, emphasizing his messianic consciousness at the start of his ministry, and foreshadowing his conflict, and cross, with the powers that be.

This day in Nazareth was not only a declaration of Jesus’ identity, but also his mission. Isaiah speaks of liberation, comfort, restoration, and joy – exactly what Jesus offered, and continues to offer, our broken world. While we reflect on this mission in a world that still groans under the weight of suffering, we are reminded that Jesus entered our poverty, our captivity, and our mourning – not as a distant Savior, but as Emmanuel – the God who is with us.

Jesus, the embodied proclamation of the Lord’s favor, did not come with political power or worldly wealth however, but with spiritual authority aimed at the margins. Whether we light candles this Advent season or not, we can be reminded that the light – and heat – of Spirit of the Lord, is not only on Jesus – but continues aflame in us. The Spirit invites and empowers us to continue in his mission – to be his hands and feet – as we proclaim good news to the poor, comfort the hurting, and are agents of God’s justice and mercy in the world. 

This Advent season, we are beckoned to align our hopes with what Jesus said was fulfilled that day in Nazareth. This need not be a distant dream – but a present reality that began with Christ’s first coming, continues through us today, and will be completed at his return.

In this season of remembrance and waiting, may we hear his words anew and respond with hearts that are open, hopeful, and ready.

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Reflection Questions:

·      How does remembering Jesus as the proclaimer of good news to the poor, the binder of the brokenhearted, and the releasor of captives, make you feel right now?

·      In what ways might Jesus be inviting you to join him in his mission of the Lord’s favor during this season?