The book of Isaiah was a major Jewish-Messianic news bulletin. When Isaiah penned these words Jehovah was the God of Israel – exclusively. Gentiles had no claims upon this God. Our passage from Isaiah, thanks to Jesus, links the Old Testament to the New and connects the Jewish children of promise to us gentiles. In our passage Isaiah has located Israel somewhere in the future on the apex of her roller coaster experience with God. Ironically and tragically, the chosen were not on board as Jesus read this passage to His local congregation…
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners; to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord. (Luke 4:18-19 & Isaiah 61:1-2)
It appeared, as Jesus began reading in the Nazareth Synagogue, that He and Israel might be headed for the long awaited consummation of their relationship. Those who had known Him His entire life were looking very favorable upon Him, wondering just how this son of Joseph and Mary would factor into their nation’s destiny (a consideration always alive in their imaginations). After all, Jesus had just returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about Him had spread through all the surrounding districts. Favor was flowing liberally…
as He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him and He said, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” And all were speaking well of Him, and wondering at the gracious words which were falling from His lips; and they were saying, “Is this not Joseph’s son?”
Jesus’ positive message was resonating well with His people, creating bonds of good will between this rising prophetic star and His audience. Things were going marvelous until He intentionally touched their hot button. There, simmering in the uneasy conscience of Israel, was a matter of painful significance – this nation’s treatment of the previous messengers God had sent her – the prophets.
No doubt you will quote this proverb to Me, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we heard was done at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.’ And He said, ‘Truly I say to you, no prophet is welcome in his hometown.’
Jesus had laid into the Jewish leaders on this matter on other occasions…
Therefore, behold, I am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes; some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city, so that upon you may fall the guilt of all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Truly I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation. (Matthew 23:34)
I know “all these things” are contested by bright and studious minds. Some of them see the gentiles as having replaced Israel as the children of promise. They see the persecution of Jews as the consequence of God’s judgement or abandonment. Even though it puts me in the catbird seat, I still can’t swallow the idea that the New Testament documents the replacement of the Jews with us Gentiles. While I can’t fully explain it, I simply do not believe God has written the Jews out of His will. I didn’t form this opinion through study alone; I just don’t think this sounds like the God I have come to know. While living in the middle of a mystery (such as we all do), the ways and the nature of God as He has revealed Himself to us is is valuable – not infallible or inerrant – but valuable.
I wonder, had the synagogue attenders not been filled with rage and cast Jesus out of their midst, would their messiah have returned the next week and read more from Isaiah’s prophecy.
To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to grant those who mourn in Zion, giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting so they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. Then they will rebuild the ancient ruins, they will raise up the former devastations; and they will repair the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations. (Isaiah 61:2-4)
If one were able to take a Google Earth tour of what was Palestine at the turn of the twentieth century and compare it with what you would see today, you would have to conclude that a significant miracle has taken place – something akin to Isaiah’s forecast – something very much like a resurrection. Not only have eroded hills and mosquito infested swamps become productive farmlands but a map would reveal that this place is now called Israel. If you decided to dig deeper you would discover that the nation’s economic and military history is equally miraculous. And, if the supernatural needed to be further justified, this has all happened while being surrounded by nations with sworn oaths to drive them from the face of the earth.
I do not believe we gentiles are the Jews replacements. I believe we have been grafted into this story of resurrection life, life that can be inherited by all who willingly call upon Jesus’ name (and all whom Jesus calls unto Himself). If this seems unlikely, something to keep in mind about resurrection life is that it is typically above and beyond our wildest speculations.
Father, may Your Life find His Way into the hearts of all those You have invited into Your family. May all the imitations of Life be exposed for the frauds they are. Let those who understand “all these things” find their voice and their platform. May the Good News be shouted from the housetops and spoken of in every household. Amen.