What was a Sign of the Messiah?

We have a lot of perceptions about Jesus and His ministry.  We have done much to define, capture and understand Him.  The Life of Jesus is like a multi-faceted diamond.  His life can be examined from different angles and new things can be understood and learned.

However, the life and ministry of Jesus had some specific aspects.  One of the many reason's Jesus became incarnate and walked this earth, was to define God's values for the Kingdom of Heaven.  The Kingdom of Heaven as introduced by Jesus is very different from the kingdom of this earth.

Isaiah 61describes the King of the Kingdom and His work

61 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,

because the Lord has anointed me

          to bring good news to the poor;

he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

          to proclaim liberty to the captives,

and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

     ²     to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,

and the day of vengeance of our God;

to comfort all who mourn;

     ³     to grant to those who mourn in Zion—

to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,

          the oil of gladness instead of mourning,

the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;

          that they may be called oaks of righteousness,

the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.

     ⁴     They shall build up the ancient ruins;

they shall raise up the former devastations;

          they shall repair the ruined cities,

the devastations of many generations.

Jesus walked into His home town of Nazareth and went to His synagogue on the day this passage was to be read.  Jesus was invited to read the text.  It is found in Luke 4:14.

¹⁴ And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country. ¹⁵ And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.

¹⁶ And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. ¹⁷ And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,

     ¹⁸     “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the poor.

          He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives

and recovering of sight to the blind,

to set at liberty those who are oppressed,

     ¹⁹     to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

²⁰ And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. ²¹ And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

Jesus saw Himself as the fulfillment of Isaiah 61.  It is interesting that these verses describe God's Messiah as being a King of justice, truth and compassion.  The character traits of the Kingdom of Heaven are marked by the character of the King.

John the Baptist was eventually imprisoned.  As he awaited his doom, it seems he was captured by doubt.  In his anxiety, he sent and asked Jesus for evidence that Jesus was truly the King of Isaiah's prophecy.

Jesus responded in Matthew 11

² Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples ³ and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” ⁴ And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: ⁵ the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. ⁶ And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

Jesus could have responded in so many different ways to John's question.  But Jesus had begun a ministry to Israel to demonstrate the King and the Kingdom of Heaven.  He gave John the answer that soothed John's mind.  Jesus was the King and His teaching was marked with justice, compassion and truth.

If we are followers of this King, then as we wait for the fulfillment of His kingdom, should we not also walk in His ways?  We may not be able to do signs and wonders, but Jesus will perform justice, compassion and truth in us as we serve Him.

The question is, how will the world around us understand what the Kingdom of Heaven is like and be attracted to the God of the universe if we aren't active in demonstrating Christ and discipling people?  

As we begin the tour of Bud and Mandy's ministry, you will see that this is not a humanitarian mission. Instead Bud and Mandy are developing a little slice of heaven on earth.  As people taste and see the Lord is good, they will find His truth is just, compassionate and full of hope.  They will crave for the good food of God's Word and be healed in their souls.

Pastor Ron Christiansen

The Holy Bible : English Standard Version., Is 61:1-4, Lk 4:14-21, Mt 11:2-6 (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001).

Inspiration

One of the Scriptures God used to show me what He values is Isaiah 58.  If you haven't read it for awhile, read it again.  The question is - are these just words on a page or do they reveal the heart of God for His people?  Yes, they were written thousands of years ago, but God's heart never changes.  If you read these words, be prepared to apply them.  Ask God to show you how to obey and ask Him to give you His heart.

Pastor Ron

Isaiah 58 “Cry aloud; do not hold back;

lift up your voice like a trumpet;

          declare to my people their transgression,

to the house of Jacob their sins.

     ²     Yet they seek me daily

and delight to know my ways,

          as if they were a nation that did righteousness

and did not forsake the judgment of their God;

          they ask of me righteous judgments;

they delight to draw near to God.

     ³     ‘Why have we fasted, and you see it not?

Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?’

          Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure,

and oppress all your workers.

     ⁴     Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight

and to hit with a wicked fist.

          Fasting like yours this day

will not make your voice to be heard on high.

     ⁵     Is such the fast that I choose,

a day for a person to humble himself?

          Is it to bow down his head like a reed,

and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him?

          Will you call this a fast,

and a day acceptable to the Lord?

     ⁶     “Is not this the fast that I choose:

to loose the bonds of wickedness,

to undo the straps of the yoke,

          to let the oppressed go free,

and to break every yoke?

     ⁷     Is it not to share your bread with the hungry

and bring the homeless poor into your house;

          when you see the naked, to cover him,

and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

     ⁸     Then shall your light break forth like the dawn,

and your healing shall spring up speedily;

          your righteousness shall go before you;

the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.

     ⁹     Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;

you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’

          If you take away the yoke from your midst,

the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,

     ¹⁰     if you pour yourself out for the hungry

and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,

          then shall your light rise in the darkness

and your gloom be as the noonday.

     ¹¹     And the Lord will guide you continually

and satisfy your desire in scorched places

and make your bones strong;

          and you shall be like a watered garden,

like a spring of water,

whose waters do not fail.

     ¹²     And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;

you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;

          you shall be called the repairer of the breach,

the restorer of streets to dwell in.

     ¹³     “If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath,

from doing your pleasure on my holy day,

          and call the Sabbath a delight

and the holy day of the Lord honorable;

          if you honor it, not going your own ways,

or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly;

     ¹⁴     then you shall take delight in the Lord,

and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth;

          I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father,

for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Is 58:1-14). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Dear Friends

Dear Friends,

If you are a regular reader of this blog, then we share a few things in common. Likely, we share a friendship with Bud and Mandy Jackson and are very interested in their ministry. I am sure that we also share a common love for people, an interest in HIV/AIDS, a love for orphans and widows, and we are probably very interested in God's response to this world of His.

Buddy sharing his heart

Buddy has invited me to periodically post glimpses into the world in which he ministers. As a pastor who was convicted by Scripture to become involved in the things that God values, I took a trip with seven others in March of 2011 to Zimbabwe. Our team from East Troy Bible Church, the Chapel in Marlboro and Antioch Evangelical Free Church saw first hand the ministry, the people and the heart of Bud and Mandy's mission in Zimbabwe.

Maybe these entries will give you a deeper appreciation for Bud and Mandy's journey of ministry. But more importantly, will encourage you to do more than read a blog. Hopefully, you too will visit Zimbabwe and see for yourself all the good things God is doing within the devastation of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Zimbabwe. Hopefully, you will pray more earnestly for Bud and Mandy. Certainly, you will be convicted as I was to be involved in acting positively for the cause of the orphan and the widow.

Please pray for the Jacksons. Mandy will be travelling on the 9th of April (her birthday) back to Zimbabwe. Pray that her travel is safe, the packing gets done, the last minute details accomplished and for a good reunion with Bud!

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Ron Christiansen

AWANA Day at Chironga