Third Sunday in Advent Year B 17th December 2023
Lectionary Readings:
Isaiah 61 v1-4, 8-11. The good news of victory.
Psalm 126 Celebrating the harvest
1 Thessalonians 5 v16-24. Always be joyful and never stop praying.
John 1 v6-8, 19-28. The message of John the Baptist.
Deep roots.
The prophecies of Isaiah about the good news of God’s victory have been cherished by generations of Jews. Jesus quotes from the prophet Isaiah more than any other source.
Jesus uses a verse from today’s reading when he starts his public ministry (Luke 4 v18).
Jesus also uses the words of the prophet to convince John the Baptist of his vocation.(Luke 7 v18-23, quoting Isaiah 35 v 5,6 and 61 v1).
John the Baptist quotes from the same prophet when challenged to identify himself. (John 1 v23).
The Pharisees who challenged John, were asking John to prove his credentials. The Pharisees knew that if God was about to do something new, it would be rooted in scripture.
A footnote in my Bible, (re John 1 v21), says that many of the Jewish people expected God to send them a prophet who would be like Moses, but with even greater power.
The Pharisees would have been mindful of what Moses had said about this future prophet. (Deuteronomy 18 v14-22).
Hence the grilling that John recounts in verses 19-23, ending with “Tell us who you are!
John the Baptist answered them in the words of the prophet Isaiah, “I am only someone shouting in the desert ‘Get the road ready for the Lord!’” (John is quoting Isaiah 40 v3).
All the New Testament writers are keen to convince Jews and Gentiles alike, that Jesus is God’s chosen one, the powerful prophet spoken of by Moses and the fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophecies.
Paul, in his letter to the Thessalonians writes, “Whatever happens, keep thanking God because of Jesus Christ. Don’t turn away from God’s spirit or ignore prophecies.” (v18,19) “Put everything to the test.” (v21) (Is it consistent with the word of God spoken by the prophets?)
Paul starts his letter with a prayer of blessing, “I pray that God will be kind to you and will bless you with peace”. A prayer that has its roots in a blessing that God gave to Moses and Aaron to say to the people of God. “I pray that the Lord will bless and protect you and that he will show you mercy and kindness. May the Lord be good to you and give you peace.” (Numbers 6 v24-26)
The word ‘peace’ in this context is God’s peace, meaning more than just the absence of conflict, Hebrew ‘Shalom’, embraces all that builds good relationships and promotes healthy communities.
God’s peace will be established by the ‘Prince of Peace’. (Isaiah 9 v6)
Jesus has deep roots.
Bible quotations are taken from the Contemporary English Version.