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It’s that time of year where news and internet sites are proclaiming the zodiac sign for 2009, and speculating on the meaning the premonitions of the upcoming year. 2009 is the Chinese Year of the Ox, for those who are interested, and it bears the characteristics of leadership, as well as prosperity through fortitude and hard work. But don’t get carried away with omens and signs. The Bible says that God appoints times and seasons, and 2009 is just another year in the timeline of God’s plan. That said, what is the significance of a new year? For Christians who are watching and praying, it is one year closer to God’s promised return. To those who are observing the signs of the times, it is another page in the divine story. To almost everyone, the New Year represents a new beginning of sort, or another chance. There is definitely a sense of a fresh start, and it is reflected in the numerous New Year’s Resolutions that most people make.
The book of Isaiah has a prophecy that speaks of a glorious year of the Lord. For the nation of Israel whom it was written too, they understood a year of favor according to the laws about the year of jubilee, which was also the only tradition they observed that included blessings extended to the gentiles. When this prophecy spoke of a year of God’s favor, it held a much greater blessing. Isaiah chapter 61 verses 1 and 2 says “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners; To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord and the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn.” When Jesus went to Nazareth, He stood in their synagogue and read this passage. Then before all the people He said, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." The meaning there was that Jesus was the one who would issue in the Year of the Lord. In the subsequent years if His ministry He went around doing just the things spoken of in the prophecy: bringing good news to afflicted, healing the brokenhearted, setting spiritual captives free, and comforting the mourners. But there was more to the fulfillment of the prophecy than just a year or two of miracles on earth. Through the imparting of the Holy Spirit on those who believe on Jesus, these great works continue through us. But how will they be accomplished? When Jesus was in Nazareth the people did not see the truth. Instead they rejected Him, and threw Him out of the synagogue. How do we react to the fulfillment of the prophecy?
I am reminded of a message I heard this past Christmas season about another fulfilled prophecy referring to Christ. The whole story of Mary being chosen to bear the Savior of the world is symbolic of the grace of God which makes the New Testament so special. God can work through any of us to accomplish His work. The message I heard challenged believers to carry the Savior to others, just as Mary carried Him into the world. Through the Holy Spirit we are empowered to bring the light of God’s salvation to a dark world. That is the same Spirit that Isaiah 61 speaks of, and in that same way we can bring good news to the afflicted, bind the broken hearts, and proclaim liberty to the captives. In that way, this year of 2009 can be as much a year of the Lord as His ministry was over 2000 years ago.
Second Corinthians 5:21 charges us that “we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us.” The beauty of Christ’s work was that He gave us the commandment to continue it throughout the world. Even as Christ came to make a pathway between God and man, so we are sent by God to prepare the way for His Spirit in others. As we carry the Spirit of God to those around us, the Lord will anoint us to bring His good news, and through Him we will make 2009 a glorious Year of the Lord!
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