I know what month it is and the year is 2022 but according to scriptures jubilee was a celebration of debt cancellation, restoration of all things thought lost forever, and new beginnings. Slaves were slaves no more, the poor were poor no more, families were reconciled and a new season had begun. The shepherds received the good news and spread it all around. Here’s what happened.
“The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined. You have multiplied the nation And increased its joy; They rejoice before You According to the joy of harvest, As men rejoice when they divide the spoil. For You have broken the yoke of his burden And the staff of his shoulder, The rod of his oppressor, As in the day of Midian. For every warrior’s sandal from the noisy battle, And garments rolled in blood, Will be used for burning and fuel of fire. For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.” Isaiah 9:2-7 NKJV
“Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
Luke 2:8-14 NKJV
This was more than a Christmas message. We don’t tuck it away until December. This is a message of hope for all times for everyone.
At the birth of Jesus our jubilee was declared. We who were once walking in darkness and isolated from God the Father were about to have the good news preached to us. We were about to have not a jubilee that was only celebrated once every seven years, but we were about to receive our eternal jubilee through Jesus Christ. Our restoration wasn’t one of goods and property being restored, but of broken lives put back together through the forgiveness of our sins. Jesus our kinsman redeemer destroyed the handwriting against us that had declared us guilty and brought us into right standing with the Father.
Our jubilee was everything Isaiah prophesied Jesus would do for us. Everything the devil stole from Adam was restored to us. Never to be taken away. We are no longer slaves to sin. We have been made righteous through His blood, and that while still in our sin. He paid the price before we even accepted His offer of jubilee. We may celebrate Christmas once per year, but not so with the Father. Every time an individual receives His Son, there is a Christmas celebration in heaven. Don’t believe me? We’re presented as a greater gift than what the wise men brought to Jesus. Just as there was celebration in Israel at jubilee, so the angels celebrate around the throne at one new birth.
“Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Luke 15:10 NKJV
Jesus spoke those words. Giving us a glimpse into what happens in heaven when jubilee comes to a soul. I heard someone say that every time a sinner is born again, Jesus takes that baby Christian like a nurse brings the newborn to its earthly parents, presents him/her to the Father, the Father turns to Jesus and declares, “doesn’t he/ she look like us!” The jubilee of Christmas never ends. Jesus is the gift that keeps on giving. Thank God we don’t have to stop celebrating when the decorations are all packed away and the carols are no longer heard. Heaven and earth are forever in a timeless celebration. Christmas is our jubilee.
“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”
John 3:14-17 NKJV
“So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.”
Mark 10:29-30 NKJV
“Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”
Galatians 3:13-14 NKJV
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.”
James 1:17-18 NKJV
“And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.”
Colossians 1:21-23 NKJV
“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.”
Jude 1:20-21, 24-25 NKJV
Jesus is our perpetual Jubilee. We can read these verses with rejoicing and celebration. We celebrate because everything has been restored back to us through Jesus Christ the mediator of a better covenant with better promises. We have everything to gain and nothing to lose. We’re no longer slaves but sons and daughters. His righteousness has been revealed in us by His Spirit. Christmas is our jubilee! The angels announced Him, now we proclaim Him by living in the freedom He has given us. We tell the world that He came, He died, He arose, He’s seated but not for long. For soon He’ll return to reclaim what’s His with a mighty shout. No longer a baby, but our conquering King. Jesus Christ our Passover Lamb, our resurrected King, our victorious Champion our Christmas Jubilee!
Go deeper: Leviticus 25
Written by permission of the Holy Spirit
W. Tennant
January 3, 2022
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