Westhill Community Church

Sunday 24^th April 2022

Jesus Brings Good News

 

Reading: Isaiah 61: 1-11

This morning we have read the passage that Jesus selected as his manifesto. In chapter 4 of his gospel Luke tells us that at the commencement of his ministry Jesus read from this passage in the synagogue in his home town of Nazareth. He announced to all gathered there that he had come to fulfil these words. These wonderful words written about 700 years previously summarised Jesus’ mission. He came to set right what was wrong in the world, to mend what was broken, to restore and renew what was spoiled. You cannot read these words without being stirred in your deepest being. They cause joy to rise up, and your heart to be filled with longing for their complete fulfilment. Look at this summary of Isaiah’s predictions of the transformation the Messiah would bring about.

But in addition to healing what is spoiled and mending what is broken the Holy Spirit through Isaiah paints three wonderful pictures of God’s further intentions for those he restores.

First of all he says they will be like oaks – oaks of righteousness, planted by the Lord, for the display of his splendour. Here is a picture of an oak tree.

By Robin Jones, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=83507146

It is considered to be the oldest oak tree in these islands, over 1000 years old, growing on Bowthorpe Park Farm in Lincolnshire. If you were to wrap a tape measure around its trunk, you would need a tape over 40 feet in length. Its trunk is hollow, and back in the eighteenth century its interior was sometimes used as a dining room seating up to 20 people. An oak tree such as this one is awe-inspiring for its majestic splendour and permanence. The Lord will make each person he rescues just like such an oak tree, says Isaiah, planted by the Lord himself, for the display of his splendour.

Secondly he says they will be like a bride and groom, dressed in all their finery.

There is a reason why we dress up in fine clothes at events such as weddings. It is because we want to celebrate something deeply meaningful and life-changing – a new beginning in a relationship sustained by love. And so too the Lord clothes his redeemed people in splendid garments, garments celebrating the great salvation he has bestowed upon them, robes that speak of the full and complete righteousness they now exhibit in their lives.

What is this righteousness that the prophet speaks of so movingly? It is the state of functioning precisely and fully according to design. Like an expensive watch with an intricate mechanism that keeps perfect time, without fail, day after day, so the Lord intends to make those he rescues think and speak and act without falling short in any way. In this life we still pray that part of the Lord ’s Prayer that says, “forgive us our sins,” and rightly so, for we fail him time and again. But when we see him face to face, when he completely clothes us with garments of salvation and robes of righteousness, we will pray that particular prayer no longer. Oh, I am sure we will continue to thank him for so great a salvation, but we will no longer have to pray for forgiveness, for we will all be like him, for ever clothed in his righteousness.

Thirdly Isaiah says that those the Lord restores will be like young plants or seedlings, planted in a fertile garden. Here is a picture of a young plant in my greenhouse.

I don’t have to put much effort into growing this young tomato plant, other than to ensure it is planted in good compost, and has enough water and light. And quite certainly the plant itself doesn’t have to plan or strive in order to grow – it happens automatically according to God’s wonderful plan and design. That is what those he redeems will be like. Indeed that is what the whole world will be like one day when, as Isaiah said, God makes righteousness and praise to spring up before all nations, like vigorous plants in a fertile field.

That great day has not yet fully come, but it is drawing nearer all the time. The Scriptures speak of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead as being the first fruits of a glorious harvest. That final harvest time has not yet come, but its coming is as sure as day follows night.

William Young Fullerton was an evangelist from Belfast at the end of the nineteenth and the beginning of the twentieth centuries. He became President of the Baptist Union and Home Secretary of the Baptist Missionary Society. He was also a frequent speaker at the Keswick Convention. But I think he is remembered mostly for the words that he wrote and set to the traditional Irish melody “Londonderry Air.” I am sure the prophetic words we read from Isaiah 61 were very much in his thoughts as well as he penned these verses.

I cannot tell how he will win the nations,

How he will claim his earthly heritage,

How satisfy the needs and aspirations

Of east and west, of sinner and of sage.

But this I know, all flesh shall see his glory,

And he shall reap the harvest he has sown,

And some glad day his sun will shine in splendour

When he the Saviour, Saviour of the world, is known.

I cannot tell how all the lands shall worship,

When at his bidding every storm is stilled,

Or who can say how great the jubilation

When every heart with love and joy is filled.

But this I know, the skies will thrill with rapture,

And myriad, myriad human voices sing,

And earth to heav'n, and heav'n to earth, will answer,

'At last the Saviour, Saviour of the world, is King!'

Our reading from Isaiah 61 doesn’t speak of trophies for the winners, or rewards for the great and good. It speaks instead of a wonderful, undeserved provision of grace for the losers, for the fallen and those who have blown it. Jesus said,

‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but those who are ill. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.’ (Luke 5: 31-32)

This puts me in mind of those words sung by Coldplay in their memorable and thought-provoking song:

Lights will guide you home … and I will try to fix you.

First we need to turn our steps towards home, to the place of fixing. Like the prodigal son in the story we need to say, “I will arise and go to my father.” Jesus said,

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matt 11: 28)

Come to me, Jesus says, and I will fix you. Not try to fix you, mind, but fix you!

When Jesus read those wonderful words from Isaiah and claimed them for himself, the people of Nazareth were initially delighted. Luke tells us,

All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. ‘Isn’t this Joseph’s son?’ they asked. (Luke 4: 22)

But before he had finished speaking to them that day they had changed their minds completely. We read that they became furious with him, and indeed tried to lynch him. So John wrote,

He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. (John 1: 11-12)

To get up and make that journey that the prodigal son made you’ve got to acknowledge that you need fixing. So this message today is first and foremost for those of us who know we need fixing. Maybe others have hurt you, and now you find you cannot put the hurts and memories behind you. You know you are damaged, but are unable to repair what is broken. Or maybe you have hurt others, and that knowledge grips you with feelings of self-condemnation and guilt. You know what you are like inside, and you do not like what you see. Jesus came to fix the broken, to release the captive, to comfort the miserable. Turn to him today. You don’t have to travel far to be fixed. When he ministered on earth there were some who just called out to him, others who just reached out and touched his cloak, and others still who just opened a door and said, “Please come in.” You can do that today, right here in this service.

If you’ve never watched an episode of the BBC television series “The Repair Shop” then I’d heartily recommend it to you. It is one of the most delightful and moving programs ever made for television. As someone enters the Repair Shop through those massive wooden barn doors, they are confronted by the host, Jay Blades, with his smiling and welcoming face, asking the question, “What would you like us to do for you?” And in my mind I have a picture of the Heavenly Repair Shop, with Jesus welcoming us in with the question, “What would you like me to do for you?” We reply, “Lord, please fix me.” And he responds, “Of course I will, trust me.”

But there’s another call we need to hear this morning. Jesus did not only say, “Come unto me,” but also, “Follow me.” And again, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” He gives to us the same mission he had. Of course, we don’t in ourselves have any ability to fix people. But we know where the repair shop is, and our task is to help people find their way to it.

Way back before this church building was built, our Rector Ian described a dream, a vision, of how the building would be used, and what this church family would be engaged in. Here is some of the content of that dream.

I dream of a place where lost men and women will find the love of our Lord Jesus.

A place where people can literally walk off the streets and into the tangible presence of God.

A place where the very walls drip with his love and grace.

I dream of a place where broken people find healing, where those who have been damaged find the healing love of Christ, and that healing love expressed and shown through people who are full of God’s compassion and love.

A place where the lonely find friendship, where those who have been rejected find acceptance and find a family where they can belong.

A place where those who have messed up in life can come and find a place that is not judgemental and abrasive, but a place that offers hope and strength.

Brothers and sisters, this is what Jesus continues to call us to do and be. God has accomplished many wonderful things since he planted us is this place to worship and serve him, but we have not yet seen the half of what he intends to do through his people here. And I invite you today, with me, to humbly respond, “Yes, Lord, we will follow you, and together we will be your hands and feet, your voice and your heart, to help those who need to find you.”

Copyright © 2022 S P Townsend