This week, we can see that God had a plan, though it might not have looked like people were expecting. And this 5 minute video (https://bibleproject.com/videos/gospel-kingdom/) helps give an overview of the good news of the God Kingdom.
This is the pivot point of the book of Isaiah - from the warnings of exile to the comfort of the exiled. Repeated words mean emphasis, so “comfort comfort” is “reeaally comfort my people”. What would this feel like if you were one of the exiled?
More promises from the second half of Isaiah to the exiled. If you want to get an overview of Isaiah, check out these two videos (Isaiah 1-39 and Isaiah 40-66). We’ll revisit this passage in two days.
Listen to what John the Baptist says — the thing you have been waiting for (Isaiah 40) is coming soon … and then Jesus shows up. But not in the way that even John expects.
Jesus is now filled with the Holy Spirit and in the next line he encounters the devil in the wilderness where he is fasting for 40 days. Then he begins to proclaim the Good News ending up in his hometown. There he told his local friends and family that he was the guy Isaiah was talking about, and that new kingdom started now. How would you have felt if you were there?
In contrast to the Synagogue, an outsider Roman recognizes Jesus authority. And John sends disciples to check with Jesus because, it appears, this isn’t what even John had in mind (again reference the video from the beginning of the week). Jesus answer is “decide for yourself if it looks like the prophecies are being fulfilled”. What would you have thought?