Main news for 7 October 2010

The prophet Isaiah puts words of defeat into the mouth of the Messiah, words saying that the Messiah's work ends in failure. But this is precisely how the Gospel story looks from a human point of view. Christ preaches astonishing things and draws disciples to Himself... But His word is rejected, the disciples scatter, and He Himself dies the shameful death of slaves and bandits. All those who were healed and raised, all those who used Christ's gifts, remain somewhere offstage, and all His labors disappear into the sand. And we observe the same thing century after century in the history of His disciples. Everything they try to build collapses and becomes the prey of all-devouring time. But that is from a human point of view. The prophet Isaiah sees the most important thing: in Christ God Himself enters the world, and therefore a miracle takes place. The Messiah whose mission failed rose again, and therefore conquered. This is how God conquers.

People expect and seek a different kind of victory. People suppose that Christ should enter Jerusalem triumphantly, put everyone to shame, and begin to reign. But He dies on the Cross. Therefore it is important for us to stop thinking about how things ought to be, how everything should happen, and to follow the Lord Jesus, not for the sake of abstract fruits of salvation, but for His own sake.