Morning Prayer 31st December

Isaiah 59:15-21

The language of this passage is St. Paul's inspiration for the whole armour of God. 'The breastplate of righteousness' and the 'helmet of salvation'. But Isaiah's image of the Lord going to battle continues in a more physical manner. Rather than a spiritual battle requiring a sheild of faith and shoes symbolising the readiness to proclaim the gospel of peace, the Lord is clothing Himself with fury and vengeance.

Isaiah's language continues to talk of requital (retaliation?), repayment and wrath. Such power will cause the enemies of Zion to tremble and honour the Lord!

But then, a change of emphasis. For those who will turn from their falsehood, the Lord makes a 'spiritual' promise; His Spirit will not leave them and His words will remain with their children.

Redemption - the saving of Zion - is described in terms of an eternal covenant relationship with God.

Is there is a new imagination emerging through the prophet? A move from understanding redemption in political terms to understanding it in personal terms; a move from retaliation to reconciliation - at least for those who will turn to God with integrity.

John 1:29-34
What does John the Baptist mean when he proclaims that Jesus is the "Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world"? And why doesn't John the Baptist know who Jesus, his cousin, is beforehand. Did his Mary and Elizabeth not share their insights?

To take the first question, there was an ancient tradition that talked of 'a lamb like a lion' who was able to see off all the other animals in battle. A paradoxical animal, whose strength was hidden and surprising. It is a well rehearsed understanding that the Messianic expectations of the time were linked to the political liberation of Jerusalem and maybe John the Baptists expectation islinked to this too - politicl liberation that will bring about justice and peace. This would make perfect sense in the light of the prophecies such as the one in Isaiah above and John's own ministry would be seen in this light too- calling a people to repentance so that they might be in a place to reocgnise the redemptive acts of God at work in their midst and become part of them, rather than turning away.

But Jesus is going to deal with sinful humanity in a more fundamental way than legislative changes can ever achieve. In doing this, he will be more like the Paschal Lamb whose sacrifice opens up a new relationship between people and God.

So, in this way, John the Baptist may have not fully understood Jesus. Who could have fully grasped that the Word made flesh, the Son of God was going to lay down his life in Sacrifice?

Thoughts
God has been very surprising in Jesus. He has changed the parameters of justice by finding a way of fighting sin in broken humanity. The language of retaliation and wrath makes way for expressions of new covenants, new starts and freedom from the causes of sin that create the injustice in the first place.

The Spirit and Word that are received through Christ break the boundaries of the imagination of even the greatest prophets.

How can the Church of today ever take this for granted? Surely we must overflow with praise and joy to our God who is doing this even now!