Blog / Beyond Christmas

The Reverend Howard Thurman framed Jesus’ proclamation from Isaiah 61:1-2 in this captivating poem, set to music by Dan Forrest. I am so guilty of getting caught up in the angels and the carols and the star of Bethlehem, in the wise men and the shepherds. How convicting, to be jarred back to the reality of the work Jesus came to do. 

To preach good news to the poor (Luke 4:18, NIV) pinpoints Jesus’ stated mission to mankind. The shepherds got it straight from the mouths of the heavenly host that Christmas day so long ago: “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11, NIV). A Savior. Mankind was in desperate need of a Savior. Good news is an understatement.

Jesus had a Spirit-anointed focus as He turned to read from Isaiah’s scroll that Sabbath in the synagogue in Nazareth. His family would have been there, his friends and neighbors too, when He distinctly told them He was the one prophesied about: “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21, NIV).

How blind they were. The Son of God had grown up in their midst. He had played in their streets, gone to their schools, worked in the shop with Joseph. When they heard His words, they chased Him out of town, intent on throwing Him over the cliff (Luke 4:29). Sad to say, ’tis true: “no prophet is accepted in his hometown” (Luke 4:24, NIV).

But I too was once blind, once perplexed by Jesus’ divinity/humanity equation. I too challenged Him to prove Himself, and even tried to throw Him over the cliff of my disappointment at my mother’s premature demise. What did God care?!   

Political unrest was rampant in Israel as Jesus travelled its roads, preaching the good news to all who would hear. The Roman governors in its various provinces were constantly at odds with the Jewish hierarchy. Oppression was rife. As you are well aware, King Herod summarily killed all the boys in Bethlehem under the age of two in order to quash the threat of the one who has been born king of the Jews (Matthew 2:1-16, NIV). 

The online Bible Background Commentary tells us that only four miles from Nazareth, the capital city of Galilee, Sepphoris, had been destroyed by the Roman armies due to a Messianic revolt. Perhaps we can give the townspeople the benefit of the doubt at their fury as they attempted to throw Jesus over the cliff. Maybe they feared equal retribution. Maybe not. Certainly they were oppressed.

Just think of the good news they were missing out on. Jesus had told them He was anointed by God to release them from all that fear, all that oppression. They should have jumped for joy at the thought, at least inwardly. Or maybe they did. At the brink of the hill outside Nazareth, Jesus somehow walked right through the crowd and went on his way (Luke 4:30, NIV).

Reading from the scroll of Isaiah, Jesus finished with this final nugget of prophecy: I am anointed “to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (Luke 4:19, NIV). No doubt this passage had been read in that particular synagogue, to those folks, many times. Perhaps they even knew the words by heart. It is you and I who need it explained.

The year of the Lord’s favor was thought to refer to the Year of Jubilee written about in Leviticus 25:8-55. The short version: every fiftieth year all mortgages were cancelled, all lands returned to the original owner, all bond folk freed from their indentured service, all heralded by the sound of the trumpet.

Fast forward with me to the ultimate Jubilee year at the end of time. The good news Jesus was about to preach to the poor would culminate in the redemption of all who believe. There would be no further misunderstanding of His messianic reference. “But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets” (Revelation 10:7, NIV).

Let the trumpet sound! As Howard Thurman ended his poetic interpretation, the Work of Christmas is destined to make music in the heart.  

You can read the complete version on encouraging.com.

Nancy Paul

Nancy Paul is Canadian born and bred but happily settled in Texas. She is married, mother of two, and grandmother of three busy boys. A long time Womenary student, she loves to read, is a lover of God's word and a wannabe writer. Nancy is a regular contributor to encouraging.com, a collection of blog articles regularly published by the women of Green Acres Baptist Church of Tyler. As well, she is the women's Bible study coordinator at GABC.