Lectionary: Series B (496)
  1. The mystery has been revealed! The mystery, of course, is the Gospel!
  2. At the center of this gospel reading is a conversation. It was of the memorable variety. It involved a peasant girl from a small town and a mighty messenger from God.
  3. Whatever else may come, however worse it may get, the light has come and will come again.
  4. These exhortations are dependent upon the accomplishments of Christ in the first Advent, with the upshot that upon the final advent the faithful will stand “sanctified completely” and “blameless.” Be mindful of both, neglect neither.
  5. The words the Anointed One uses to describe His reign are very familiar ones: Preach to the afflicted, bind up the broken hearted, liberty for the captives, opening eyes, comfort and provide for those who mourn.
  6. Mark makes no effort to impress listeners or win votes. His voice aims only to prepare those who hear it for the coming of the Lord.
  7. The sneak-peek vision of the world to come, a preview of the Last Day, the Day of the Lord, has already been revealed, declares Peter.
  8. Isaiah invokes beautiful imagery of the Good Shepherd who tends His flock, gathers His lambs in His arms, carries them in His bosom, and gently leads.
  9. The LORD God had promised He was coming, and they were certain there could be no better time for Him to fulfill His promise.
  10. Human history and especially the Christian life have a shape and Jesus is its shaper at every point.
  11. Jesus desires for us to watch. The question, however, is, “How do we watch for the return of Jesus?”
  12. It is important to note the “mission” character of this text. Indeed, these would have been strange words for Isaiah’s audience. The Israelites had taken the covenantal promise and the language of separation and chosen to mean that the message of salvation and restoration was meant for no one but them.
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