Favor Fulfilled

Isaiah 61:2b-3 and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion, to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness 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.
&
Luke 3:16-18 John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” 18 And with many other words John exhorted the people and preached the good news to them. 
 
WE remember Advent is a season to both celebrate the Lord Jesus come to earth and rejoice in the promise of Christ’s second coming. In our previous lesson we included the first part of Isaiah 61:2. Now let us see the entire verse: Isaiah 61:2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn. But see that Luke 4:19 records Jesus stopped his reading of the scripture with “the Lord’s favor”. As he announced his ministry’s purpose, he did not read, “he day of vengeance of our God.” This is because Jesus first came to seek and save what was lost (Luke 19:10b). And he says in John 12:47 “I will not judge those who hear me but don't obey me, for I have come to save the world and not to judge it.” Through Jesus, the Son, God’s favor, the gospel of salvation, has been declared. Today the ministry of God’s Word is God’s favor to redeem the lost and prepare his own for the final judgment. 
   Many believe. And many do not. One day Jesus’ winnowing fork will clear the chaff from the seed. Jesus will complete Isaiah’s prophecy, and the Son of Man will judge the unbelievers into Hell and believers into the new Jerusalem – the new heaven and earth. Beauty will crown their heads. Aromatic, healing oils will anoint their bodies. Praise will cover their souls. Joy breaks forth in their worship. Despair is done. Faith firmly marks God’s church when we have been judged into his righteous truth. The Lord has planted his church to be oaks of righteousness to display his splendor. 
   We thank God for the Son’s first coming. He births our sinful souls into a new life now and forever. We thank God for the Son’s second coming that will welcome home all who believe.
 
Prayer: Lord God, your favor is displayed in your very personal plan to save your own throughout the world. We anticipate with joy you are coming to judge the world, so we may live eternally with you. Amen.