Isaiah 61:3 (The Lord has anointed me) 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.
I think everyone either has their own or has heard the story of a boy or girl who made a bad trade. They come home ready to tell their parent what they’ve done in a spirit of excite-ment, only to be disappointed by their parent’s reactions. We thought we were getting a good deal, but we really just got ‘took’.
I can’t help but think of that sort of situation when I consider what Jesus has done. In today’s passage, Isaiah prophecies of what the coming Messiah will do. Jesus found (and finds) those who mourn and He comforts them. He provides for those who grieve. How does He do this? He makes a trade. They have ashes and He trades them a crown of beauty for them! That seems like a bad trade! They have mourning and He swaps them for joy!
“What else have you got?” He seems to say.
“Well, I have a spirit of despair.” Comes the answer.
“Great! I’ll take it! I’ll give you a garment of praise!” Jesus happily adds.
He seems to enjoy these ‘bad trades’! Why? Did Jesus then go to the Father and tell Him what He’d done? And what was the reaction? Was Father God saddened that Jesus had made these trades? Not at all! In fact, it was all part of the plan! Jesus found these broken-down, beaten-down people. People who were the picture of weakness. Mourning, in ashes, with a spirit of despair. Definitely not the kind of people who you’d naturally be attracted to. But after Jesus makes His trades, they are called ‘oaks of righteousness!’ They go from being the very picture of suffering and sadness to the very symbol of strength! And a sort of trophy for God! To show off His splendor!
How does He do this? How was the trade accomplished? He lived a perfect life and died on a cruel cross to pay the just penalty for our sins. In fact, any concern that we might have had earlier about Him telling the Father what He’d traded for and what the Father’s reaction might be can be laid to rest. Jesus was acting just like His Father! God the Father made the most incredibly-bad trade of all time!
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
It truly is amazing! Why would He ever make such a trade? The perfect Son of God for me? For you? What prompts such a trade? Well, we can rule out foolishness, since it’s God! The only explanation is the one given - love. I can tell you for sure that I was a bad trade! But I am eternally grateful that He made that trade!
Blessings
Pastor Russ
