Complete Joy Through Comfort – December 20, 2023

He has sent me . . . to proclaim the year of the LORD’S favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn.
Isaiah 61:1,2

Complete Joy Through Comfort

“I need to tell you something.” When someone starts a conversation with these words, you brace yourself for what they are about to say. What’s the nature of the news? Is there a problem? Is everything okay? Whether good or bad, you want to hear the news. You don’t want to be left hanging.

Jesus needs to tell you something important. Don’t be alarmed because what he says is for your ultimate comfort; it will give you reason to rejoice. He announces the Lord’s favor. It is not a favor earned by us. It is a favor that was earned for us by Jesus.

This is why our Servant-King can comfort those who mourn. When we sorrow over our sin and recognize the punishment our sin deserves, our King comes to comfort us by announcing the gift of God’s love. He is not the God who comforts only from afar. The comfort he sends is up close and personal. He sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to draw near to a broken world and share good news face-to-face. Jesus came to face the wrath of God and spare us from it completely. He declared his undeserved love and full and free forgiveness to us. He comes to bring up-close and personal comfort through his Word and promises that he is right there with us. He comes in the waters of baptism to personally comfort and cleanse. He comes in bread and wine with his body and blood to comfort mourning hearts and fill us with his joy.

Prayer:
Come, King Jesus, with words of comfort for my mourning heart, and fill me with the joy of your salvation. Amen.