Was Jesus the first "Indignado"?

Isaiah 61.1-11

JESUS = THE FIRST “INDIGNADO”?

·         Someone at StG said this last week. I agree with some reservations

·         Indignados’ motives not all completely pure (“You’ve got yours, I want mine” … )

·         Indignation at oppression, injustice etc is as old as humanity (J was not the first)

·         Cycles of history – oppressed become the oppressors etc, etc…

ISAIAH INSPIRED

·         Writes 550BC, at low point of one historical cycle

·         Claims to be inspired by God

·         Casts hope and prophesies good news for those least likely …

·         Insists history not just pointless cycles – heading somehere good, perfect, where God’s values prevail.

JESUS FULFILLED

·         550 years later

·         Lk 4 quotes Is 61 (his first “sermon”)

·         Perfectly lived out Is 61 (give some examples …)

·         Holy and pure indignation, like v 8-10 (espec in Mark’s gospel e.g. 1.41, 2.5-10, 3.1-6, 11.15-17). Completely unselfish, pure, power-full

·         Completely & decisively won salvation for all, in the most unexpected way

A ROLE FOR THE INDIGNANT/SAVED

·         In Is 61, the saved become the indignant – indignant for what God is indignant about: see verse 8 and the reversals of verse 1-3ª. (Illustrations from “Advent Conspiracy”)

·         V3b Mighty oaks ; a planting for the Lord for the display of his splendour!

·         V4 Rebuild, Restore, Renew …

·         V6 Priests and Ministers. Meaning? – not wearing dog collars etc  BUT being  go-betweens for God (How might that look here, for us … )

CONCLUSION

·         Jesus was not the first but the perfect “indignado” …

·         The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on us too, and for a purpose …

·         History is clearly on the path Isaiah predicted and Jesus fulfilled it to save the world

·         We are all called to play our part; know that we are saved from ourselves, see the world with “different eyes” and  “live beautifully” (Chalke/Mann).

·         Whether we are “haves” or “have nots” we need to get beyond self-centred indignation to an active, Christ-centred discipleship.