Check out all the previous Christmas readings here.
Christmas Reading Plan | Week 2 | Day 2
Prayer
Allow some silence for your soul to catch up with your body. Open your hands before God and think about the things that are troubling you. Imagine they are in your hands and give them to God. End your prayer thanking God that He meets you in your trials and brokenness.
Bible Reading: Isaiah 61:1-4
Read these verses three times slowly.
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
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.
They will rebuild the ancient ruins
and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
that have been devastated for generations.
Reflection & Questions
As we remind ourselves of what Christmas is all about, we have been looking at prophecies in Isaiah of the Rescuer to come. If you’ve missed those, check them out using the link at the top of the page.
Today, we look at one more prophecy in Isaiah. These words were actually quoted by Jesus when He began His ministry (Luke 4:16-21). Jesus told his audience, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Incredibly, Jesus was claiming in this to be the One that Isaiah prophesied about throughout his book. He was in effect saying, “I am the child-king whose name is Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace. I am the one whose reign will last forever. I am the one who will suffer and die for the sins of His people, but I will also rise.” The boldness of this claim of Jesus in saying “this scripture is fulfilled” cannot be overstated. Jesus cannot just be a good teacher. As C.S. Lewis wrote, he’s either a liar, a lunatic or Lord.
But look at how Isaiah describes the Rescuer. He would “proclaim good news”; he would bring “comfort”; he would replace ashes with beauty; mourning would be replaced with joy. If you are broken hearted, feel imprisoned, live in darkness, in mourning, or like life is in ashes, Jesus came for you. That is the wonder of Christmas. Jesus didn’t come for those who had it all together. He came for those who knew they were broken and needed a rescuer.
- What word or phrase from Isaiah 61 sticks out to you today? Why?
- Is there brokenness or mourning that you need Jesus to meet you in today? Talk to Him about it.
Prayer
Talk to God in response to today’s reading.
Worship Song
You might use this song today to worship Jesus today:
Check out more Bible Reading Plans here.
Questions?
Ed Applegate
