When Jesus Shows Up: Redeemer

Jesus is coming. He is coming as Redeemer!

Along with thousands of others, we have prayed for revival and sought God for another great awakening in our nation. Like the followers of Jesus on the road into Jerusalem, we have shouted Hosanna, which in the original language means, “Please, save us!” With each passing day, we are more and more aware of our need and it has become clear that only God can rescue us from ourselves. It is also becoming more and more clear that God has heard the prayers of his people and has promised to come himself to save, to revive and to awaken.

But, will we know him when he comes? Will we recognize him? Will we discern the holy from the common? Sadly, it is possible to miss Jesus when he shows up. Many didn’t recognize his coming 2,000 years ago. How can we be sure to recognize the day of our visitation?

Isaiah 59 says that when God shows up, he comes as a Redeemer to do that which no one else is able to do. He comes to fight on behalf of his people and his great name. In a commentary on the book of Isaiah, Calvin & Pringle write, “God is said to be enraged for the sake of his people; and thus, the more that Satan labours and makes every effort against us, so much the more does God kindle with zeal, and so much the more powerfully does he rise up, to render assistance to us. ”

The Lord looked and was displeased
to find there was no justice.
16 He was amazed to see that no one intervened
to help the oppressed.
So he himself stepped in to save them with his strong arm,
and his justice sustained him.
17 He put on righteousness as his body armor
and placed the helmet of salvation on his head.
He clothed himself with a robe of vengeance
and wrapped himself in a cloak of divine passion.
18 He will repay his enemies for their evil deeds.
His fury will fall on his foes.
He will pay them back even to the ends of the earth.
19 In the west, people will respect the name of the Lord;
in the east, they will glorify him.
For he will come like a raging flood tide
driven by the breath of the Lord.[a] 20 “The Redeemer will come to Jerusalem
to buy back those in Israel
who have turned from their sins,”[b] says the Lord. Isaiah 59:15-20 NLT

The Lord hears the cries of His people and sees from heaven. He comes HIMSELF in answer. He comes in battle gear, ready for war. A witness of the Hebrides Island revival is quoted as saying, “The Lamb of God took the field and the forces of darkness were routed.” That’s revival! Revival happens when the Lamb of God comes to war on behalf of his people- to redeem what we couldn’t do for ourselves.

It is HIS battle now and the victory belongs to Jesus. He came to Bethlehem as Messiah. He will come at the end of time as King of Kings. And, for those of us in the middle, Jesus comes as manifest Presence of God and in glory to redeem… to hold it all together. He’s alpha, omega and holds us together in between – HIMSELF. He is our Redeemer and he is coming!

He is coming!
He is coming in might.
He is coming in vengeance.
He is coming with justice.
He is fierce.
He is strong.
He is Redeemer!

This is revival. When Jesus himself comes… as Redeemer!