Dec. 14: Proclaim by Don Click
Luke wrote in Ch. 4: 16 – 21 how Jesus was handed the scroll of the prophet Isaiah while standing in the synagogue. Jesus unrolled it and read aloud where Isaiah had written:
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Once seated, Jesus added “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
Luke, shortly after, described how those in the synagogue were stunned!
In 1971, a novella was written by Barbara Robinson entitled “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever”. Later, an abridged version was presented as a one-hour TV movie. And, you likely know that a wonderful new presentation was just recently available in local movie theaters.
In the Robinson story, a small-town church’s annual live Christmas pageant is accidentally taken over by the Herdman children, a group feared and disliked as the local school yard bullies. Even though the Herdman sibs did not find the food treats that they thought were part of the church’s Sunday School, one by one they found themselves getting leading roles in the upcoming pageant as the usual pageant children backed out in fear of or disgusted by the Herdmans.
Gradually, though, something miraculous took place as each Herdman began to grasp the meaning of the Christmas story. The audience anxiously watched as the story was narrated while each pair or group of cast members entered the stage on cue and took their place. The youngest Herdman, Gladys, played the Angel of the Lord. Her oldest sister entered as Mary along with Joseph and took her place carefully carrying the Baby.
In both the TV movie and the latest movie productions, I love the reaction by the Angel Gladys. As the only cast member who is given a line to speak, Gladys shouts out for everyone to hear:
“HEY, UNTO YOU A CHILD IS BORN!”
Now, that is PROCLAIMING! She showed herself to have felt changed and compelled to SHOUT! The audience and the cast were stunned, although joyfully!
As Christians, we confess to following Jesus. We, too, are commissioned to proclaim, to announce, to praise, to extol or raise up. Jesus directs each of us to be evangelicals, meaning messengers.
Matthew 28:19 – Go and make disciples…
Mark 16:15 – Go into all the world and preach the good news…
Gladys did it! How hard can it be? Let her enthusiasm be our guide.
“Hey!”. Not an “in your face” shout (although it might sometimes need to be). But, better by listening caringly and sharing empathetically. That is a more persuasive way to say “Hey!”
“Unto you” – TO everyone; the baby shows God’s love and forgiveness to everyone, unto every “you”.
“a child” who grew to be the (Hebrew) “Messiah”, the “Savior” is delivered to and for us.
“is born!” And, is resurrected, present, available, now, everywhere, and forever!
It cannot be that hard if we truly feel converted, turned around, changed into“messengers”. But, it only begins when we try.
Prayer:
In whatever language, in every setting, confessing humility and joy, let us live, speak, act, and serve in an ever-increasing variety of ways that rely on the Holy Spirit to make us messengers, proclaiming in our own ways to all who clamor to know, feel, and be truly blessed by the presence of the Savior in their walk.
—Don Click