Reflection: “It Doesn’t Get Much Better Than This” It seems extravagant that for the third week in a row the lectionary has given us another glorious passage from Isaiah, with some of its exuberant poetry.
Isaiah 35 is one mighty, magnificent promise, ringing out far above all our bruises, fractures, fears and pessimism. It declares: “Joy rules the universe!” But when, you say, when will all this joy happen? Will it be next year - next century - in this millennium? Will it ever happen here in history, or will it be beyond time - in another dimension of life? As far as the prophet Isaiah could see, it was going to be fulfilled here, on earth, in our time. Note that this chapter of Isaiah would normally be read against the background of the previous one. Chapter 34 is all gloom and destruction - particularly of the hated land of Edom. But Edom was set to become a wilderness. Instead of flowers there would be thistles and thorns; where princes flaunted their wealth and power, hyenas and jackals would make their lairs. This contrasts with Israel in Chapter 35, where flowers are blooming, even in the deserts, and the jackals are gone. In those days, hundreds of years before the time of Jesus, the Jews had little idea of a positive life beyond death. Some believed in a shadowy place, or state, called sheol, where existence was at the lowest possible ebb, without actual extinction. For most of the Israelites, this life on earth was the only one that mattered. Therefore, if God made a promise about the happiness of his people, the only way that the promise could be fulfilled was within the context of this time and place. In other words: in human history. Given their limited view of life, if God’s people were to be vindicated, it was going to happen there in the holy land. The consummation would probably be on Mt Zion, in Jerusalem - the holy city. Isaiah’s outlook, therefore, is very terrestrial. i.e. of this world. But we’re still left wondering – when’s it going to happen? At what date and time? This brings us to the reading from the gospel of Matthew regarding John the Baptist. Here we see John waiting in prison. He was expecting the fulfilment to happen through the Messiah – his cousin Jesus - the man whom he had recently baptised in the River Jordan. But the news, brought to John by his disciples, wasn’t all that encouraging. Jesus hadn’t launched the kingdom in any way that John could recognise. Jesus hadn’t recruited an army - either of men or of fiery angels. Maybe he, John, was mistaken and Jesus wasn’t the Messiah. He sent the disciples back to Jesus with the plaintive message: “Are you the Messiah who is to come, or must we look for someone else?” Jesus responded by asking John’s disciples to report what they see and hear: “The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the good news preached to them.” If John’s disciples would only look and listen, they’d be able to see that Isaiah’s prophecy was being fulfilled in front of their very eyes. It hadn’t come with a display of fearsome power, or with a host of fiery angels; but it had commenced in one humble man, who loved people without reserve. One thing, included in Matthew, that Isaiah did not expect or promise, is: “The dead are raised.” This says that the vindication of God’s children is not confined to the brief passage of our life on earth. John himself is soon to be executed, but he’ll still see the fulfilment of Isaiah’s magnificent vision. What isn’t completed within time will be completed outside of time; what isn’t consummated on earth, will be consummated in heaven. I like to think that the poor, incarcerated, but noble figure – John - got the message loud and clear. He certainly deserved it. We’re not tied to that limited view of life which was held by the Jews in the time of Isaiah, or John. It doesn’t all have to happen here and now, for God has unlimited patience. With Jesus, we know that we belong to God for both time and eternity and for us, the promises of Isaiah may happen within history, or they may happen beyond history; in time or in eternity; in mortal life or in life beyond death. God’s people will be vindicated, one way or another. That shouldn’t, in the least way, let us minimise the importance of striving - with all our heart, soul and strength - to achieve as much of the promise as we can, right now, here on earth. Note that we’re not supposed to sit around in pious resignation, waiting for the next life to put everything right. We’re not to be religious bundles of misery - cynical about all that’s happening in the world around us today. We ARE, however, to be the body of Christ, continuing his mission in this time and in this place. We ARE to be co-workers in the era of fulfillment, the age of new hope and great joy! Our place is alongside all of those who are trying to achieve the joyful things Isaiah dreamed and spoke about. Joy to the people who make the cochlear ear, to those who create the new generation of artificial limbs. Joy to those peacemakers who give their lives in the cause of reconciliation, to those are by their deeds are good news to the poor of the world. Joy to people who, like the Fred Hollows Foundation, give sight to the blind in many third-world countries, to those who cure lepers, nurse people with COVID, or immunise others against diseases. Joy to those who dedicate their lives to medical research, to those who toil in the cause of justice and peace. Joy to those who help increase food production in poorer countries, to those who welcome refugees and give them a new homeland. Joy to all who bring hope to any sphere of human misery and to those who spread the Gospel – news that the new age has been launched by Jesus. So we see that Isaiah got it right when he said: “Strengthen the weak hands and make firm the feeble knees. Say to the faint-hearted: “Be strong, fear not!” Christ comes to fulfil all things. And those whom God has redeemed shall return to Zion with singing; On their heads shall be unending joy, gladness and laughter shall stay with them, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” Let us pray as we consider this message. Loving Lord God, help us to understand your timings and not get caught up in the short-sightedness of our humanness. You have given us everything we need, so help us to get on with the job of living in your Kingdom and help others to also share and join us in praising you. In the name of Jesus, the Messiah, we pray. Amen …….Pastor Rick
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