Jesus Is Our Jubilee

Introduction: What Is Advent?

Advent is a Christian season of waiting - expectant, hopeful waiting. We look back to Jesus' first coming and look forward to His second coming. It is a season of preparation, reflection, and anticipation.

Today is the 3rd Sunday of Advent, also called the Sunday of Joy. The lighting of the candle of joy reminds us that even in darkness, joy is possible. This joy isn't based on circumstances - it's rooted in Christ Himself.

What Is Jubilee?

In the Old Testament, the Year of Jubilee (every 50th year) proclaimed:

• Liberty throughout the land
• Debts forgiven
• Slaves set free
• Land restored

It was meant to prevent perpetual poverty and unjust accumulation of wealth. But Jubilee was a shadow of a greater reality. Jesus is our Jubilee - our forgiveness, freedom, and joy.

1. Waiting Can Test Our Joy

Advent is about waiting. But waiting can be difficult - it can even challenge our faith. This is exactly what happened to John the Baptist in Matthew 11:2-11.

John's Situation

John knew his calling: He was the messenger preparing the way for the Messiah. He preached boldly, called people to repentance, and even baptized Jesus. He had seen Jesus perform miracles, gather followers, and proclaim the kingdom. But now... John was in prison - isolated, cut off, uncertain.

He sends his disciples to Jesus with a painful, honest question: "Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?" (Matthew 11:3)

This is not unbelief. This is a disciple wrestling with suffering and waiting. We ask similar questions:

• "If you're my healer, why am I still sick?"
• "If you're my provider, why am I still struggling?"
• "If you're my deliverer, why do I still feel stuck?"

Like John, we long for Jubilee - for freedom, healing, restoration.

Big Idea Connection: When life feels like a prison, joy comes not from escape but from entrusting our uncertainty to Jesus - our Jubilee.

2. Jesus' Answer: Signs of Jubilee

Jesus does not rebuke John. He invites him to remember what God is doing.

"Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news." (Matthew 11:4-5)

These are not random miracles. They are Jubilee signs, fulfilling Isaiah 61:

• Good news to the poor
• Release to captives
• Sight to the blind
• Freedom for the oppressed
• "The year of the Lord's favor" - Jubilee!

Jesus is saying: "I am the fulfillment of Jubilee. I am your Jubilee."

He continues: "Blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me." (Matthew 11:6) In other words: Do not stumble because I do not work the way you expect. Even in darkness, God is still working.

Big Idea Connection: True joy flows from remembering who Jesus is - our bringer of Jubilee - even when we can't see the full picture.

3. Joy in the Kingdom: Greater Than John

Jesus says something remarkable: "Among those born of women no one is greater than John the Baptist." (v. 11) Yet... "the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he."

Meaning: Because of Jesus, we are citizens of a kingdom greater than anything John ever saw in his lifetime. These are words of affirmation, hope, and encouragement.

Advent Reminds Us Who Jesus Is

He is the One who:

• Gives sight to the blind
• Heals the sick and broken
• Raises the dead
• Brings good news
• Forgives, includes, adopts, and loves us

Through Jesus, Jubilee has arrived - freedom, healing, restoration, grace.

Big Idea Connection: Our joy rests in belonging to the Jubilee kingdom of the unchanging Christ.

4. Jesus Our Jubilee: The Source of Lasting Joy

Jubilee in the Old Testament came every 50 years. But in Jesus, Jubilee is eternal. Jesus doesn't just announce good news - He is the good news. He doesn't just proclaim release - He accomplishes it. He doesn't just cancel debt - He pays it.

This means:

Jesus sets captives free - "If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." (John 8:36)

Jesus cancels our debts - "He canceled the record of debt, nailing it to the cross." (Colossians 2:14)

Jesus restores our inheritance - "In Christ, we have obtained an inheritance." (Ephesians 1:11)

Jesus gives us rest - "Come to me, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)

Jesus pours out God's favor - "From his fullness we have all received grace upon grace." (John 1:16)

Big Idea Connection: Joy is not the absence of hardship, but the presence of Jesus - our unchanging Jubilee.

5. Rejoicing in the Jubilee Life

How do we live as people of Jubilee?

• We live forgiven not condemned.
• We live free not enslaved to fear or sin.
• We live restored as God's beloved children.
• We live joyful even in suffering, because Christ reigns.

And we extend Jubilee to others:

• Forgive as you've been forgiven
• Share good news
• Stand with the oppressed
• Celebrate grace everywhere

Paul says: "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice." (Philippians 4:4) We rejoice not because life is easy, but because Jesus is faithful.

Big Idea Connection: True joy is found not in our changing circumstances but in trusting the unchanging Jesus - our Jubilee.

Conclusion

John's story reminds us: Even in darkness, joy is possible. Even in waiting, freedom is coming. Even in chains, Christ is near.

Whatever "prison" you face today - fear, loneliness, grief, addiction - Jesus is your Jubilee. He cancels every debt. He breaks every chain. He restores what was lost. He fills your heart with joy.

Lift your eyes, people of God: Your Redeemer lives. Your Jubilee has come. Jesus is our Jubilee - our freedom, our healing, our everlasting joy.

Amen.

The original version of this GCI-Equipper sermon is in the following link: https://equipper.gci.org/2025/10/sermon-for-december-14-2025-third-sunday-of-advent