** Unlocked은 Keys for kids Ministries에서 지원받은 프로그램입니다. 원본으로 듣고 싶으신 분들은 홈페이지 Unlocked.org로 들어가시면 <June 26, 2021>에서 다시 들으실 수 있습니다.**
Prophesy Fulfilled
• READ: ISAIAH 61:1-3; LUKE 4:16-21; 2 CORINTHIANS 3:12-18
We often think of the Old Testament as dull and dry. Some parts are filled with stories that are familiar to some of us, like Noah’s ark. But the rest of the Old Testament...eh, not so much. A lot of us don’t like to read the books of the prophets because many of them seem so full of gloom and doom. But let’s take a closer look at a small portion of a large prophecy book.
Isaiah is considered the earliest of Israel’s prophecy books. Isaiah wrote between 760-673 BC, and at this point the Israelites were a divided nation: two kingdoms, Israel in the north and Judah (where Jerusalem is) to the south. The book of Isaiah is called one of the “major prophets” because of its length (the “minor prophets” are not less important, just shorter). Isaiah’s writings are full of warnings of God’s judgment coming on the nation, but his book is also full of God’s hope, grace, and restoration that will be fulfilled in the Messiah.
When God gives prophecies, they can be for the immediate future, or they can be for a time much farther in the future (and often it’s both). From when a prophecy is first spoken or written, it could be a day, a month, or thousands of years until that prophecy is fulfilled.
Isaiah 61:1-3 talks about power to restore, to lift burdens, to set prisoners free, and to heal grief and broken hearts. In this passage of Scripture, Isaiah was speaking of the coming Messiah, the One God promised to send to save His people, the One the Israelites had been waiting for, for generations. Isaiah’s words tell people what to expect from this Messiah.
The beauty of this passage is that we find it repeated in the New Testament by Jesus Himself. In Jewish synagogues, there are daily readings, first from the Torah (which we know as the first five books of the Bible), and also from the prophets. Each day has a specific passage to read from the scrolls. One day, Jesus went to Synagogue in Nazareth and read this passage from Isaiah, and He said, “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!” (Luke 4:21). So, while no one in Isaiah’s time saw the fruition of this message, those in Jesus’ time did, and many believed He was the Messiah! Today, if we’ve put our trust in Jesus, His death for our sins and resurrection, we can experience the freedom only He can give. • Carol Graft
• How did Jesus fulfill this Old Testament prophecy (Isaiah 61:1-3)?
• While God first gave these prophecies to the Israelites, the Messiah is good news for everyone! How can you pray for friends going through tough times in light of Isaiah 61:1-3?
...wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17b (NLT)
** Unlocked은 Keys for kids Ministries에서 지원받은 프로그램입니다. 원본으로 듣고 싶으신 분들은 홈페이지 Unlocked.org로 들어가시면 <June 29, 2021>에서 다시 들으실 수 있습니다.**
True Authority
• READ: MATTHEW 28:16-20; MARK 1:21-28; LUKE 10:17-24
Many of us are familiar with Jesus’ Great Commission to His disciples in Matthew 28:19-20, telling us to go and make disciples of all nations. I love these Bible verses, and so does the church as a whole. We’ve emblazoned them on laptop stickers and bracelets. Serving others is a trendy thing to do. But sometimes we forget to look at the big picture, at the words that come right before “go and make disciples.” Before Jesus sent His friends out into the world, He reminded them that all authority in heaven and on earth belongs to Him.
Jesus is God in the flesh, both fully God and fully human. Matthew shares the story of how God came down to earth, humbled Himself, and became human to take the punishment we deserved by dying on the cross. Jesus is the face of mercy and love. But Jesus’ humility does not make Him weak (Philippians 2:6-11). He claimed victory over the grave when He endured the cross and rose from the dead (Hebrews 12:2-3). In His last recorded words to His disciples, who He’d forgiven and redeemed, Jesus declared ownership of all authority, in heaven and on earth.
This doesn’t mean Jesus will eliminate all the bad things in this world immediately. We are all experiencing life in a fallen world, and even people who love God endure difficult situations. However, it does mean Jesus has the final word (John 16:33). Jesus is the ultimate authority. Jesus is the King of Kings, and He is coming back to restore creation, to establish a new heaven and a new earth. He also sent His Holy Spirit to be in us here and now.
So when we go into the world and share the love of God, we don’t do it to make ourselves seem holy. We don’t do it because social justice is cool or looks good on a T-shirt. We go into the world and make disciples because Jesus died to become our authority, and He shares that authority with us. His love, His mercy, His justice is all that matters. And we don’t want anyone to live without it. • Becca Wierwille
• As we recognize our daily need for the gospel, how might sharing the good news with others flow naturally from a place of humility and love? How are the gospel and social justice related?
• Make a list of people in your life who might not know the love of Jesus. How could you go about sharing the good news of His mercy with them? Take a moment to ask God for ideas.
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples...” Matthew 28:18-19a (NIV)
