Jesus knew that he was ruffling feathers. He was upsetting the status quo. In some cases, Jesus was making the Pharisees and religious leaders look ridiculous. Not on purpose, but because the truth reveals the darkness and hardened hearts. The people were oppressed by the government. There was fear. People were waiting for their promised Savior to come rescue them.
Then Jesus arrives on the scene. He had followers. He was healing people all over the place. He was proclaiming the Good News. It must have seemed too good to be true. But Jesus wasn’t the first to come along. Satan has used false prophets throughout history to throw people off, to lure them away from the truth. We can see evidence of that still today. We are still a people in need of a Savior.
The difference for us is that Jesus has come. We are in the in-between times as we wait for Jesus to return. So, we wait like they were waiting. We’re hopeful as they were hopeful. Some people have become obsessed with the waiting trying to figure out when Jesus will return. It’s not something we’re supposed to know. What we do need to do is be ready.
Many people still don’t know Jesus. Even those of us who do sometimes lose our focus. This prophecy from Isaiah is beautiful. What do we learn about Jesus? He is God’s servant. He has God’s spirit. He will proclaim justice. He will see the good in things. He will be victorious. He brings hope. Jesus was not the kind of Savior the people were expecting. He was a servant king. A just king. God’s chosen one. He was not a rebellious warrior fighting for justice with physical might. He was a warrior using truth.
Where do you place your trust? What hopes do you have for the future? How do you wrestle with the inequalities and injustice you see in the world?
Take some time to reflect today on what your future looks like. We obviously don’t know how many days God will give us to live, but we can choose how we live each day we do have. Are you wasting time? Are you letting worry take control? Do you fear the unknown? Are you looking for ways to serve? You may even want to write down some goals. Some people are calling these lists “bucket lists.”
Where does your peace come from? Find your peace today.
Let’s pray. Lord, you are the giver of life and all good gifts. Thank you for how you have gifted me. Help me today to let go of the lies I have let control me. Refresh my soul and ignite the passion once again. Help me to be a better leader and equip me for service. I am seeking peace in this mixed-up world. I am looking for you. Reveal yourself and your path for me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
