In the Old Testament people covered themselves with ashes or applied ashes to their bodies to signify mourning. There were many reasons that necessitated this act. In the following passage the prophet Isaiah speaks about God giving a crown of beauty to his people instead of ashes.
1The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,
3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. (Isaiah 61:1-3).
The central message conveyed in Isaiah 61:1-3 is God’s divine mission: to bring good news to the poor, heal the broken hearted, free captives, provide comfort to the mourning, transform despair into joy and beauty, and proclaim the Lord’s Vengeance. This message was originally proclaimed by the prophet Isaiah but found its fulfillment in Christ, as noted in Luke 4:18-20.
Upon reflecting on this scripture passage, I came to realize that each of us carries a personal story, one that we may have never shared with anyone else. These stories can be filled with hurt, pain, frustration, or disappointment. In some instances, they may be tales of grief stemming from the loss of a loved one or a grievous mistake or sin committed.
However, the divine mission of God offers us hope and healing. This is the Good News that Isaiah was tasked with proclaiming, specifically to the poor. Another interpretation of “poor” is “humble,” signifying that this message is directed at those who are humble. When you embrace humility, you recognize your dependence on divine assistance. Humility leads to submission and surrender to God, acknowledging your need for Him. In this context, Isaiah symbolically represents Christ, who came bearing the Good News of salvation.
Christ’s mission extended to healing the broken-hearted, encompassing those who had been wounded by life’s disappointments, be it through broken relationships, job losses, or the loss of loved ones. Furthermore, His mission aimed to grant freedom to captives, liberating individuals from the bondage of sin and various vices that ensnare them in sinful activities. Isaiah also speaks of releasing prisoners from darkness, which is echoed in Luke 4:18 when Jesus mentions opening blind eyes. This was the essence of Jesus’ ministry—he not only restored physical sight but also opened the spiritual eyes of many.
Christ came full of grace and truth, and before we can receive grace, we must confront the truth about our condition and the need for a Savior. Christ exemplifies the undeserved favor of forgiveness, love, and acceptance into God’s family. Having heard people’s painful stories in the past, I have guided them toward the divine narrative in the Bible, where they encounter God’s story reaching down to Earth through Christ’s sacrifice. He bore our pain, disappointments, frustrations, grief, and sin, promising to avenge the evil done to us by the devil and others. Consequently, He receives us in forgiveness and calls on us to forgive, leaving vengeance to Him. Forgiveness liberates us from the grip of those who have hurt us. He is a God of divine justice.
When Christ quoted Isaiah 61:1-3 and applied it to His ministry, He conveyed a message that resonates with every human being who has experienced pain in life. Christ demonstrates His divine favor by comforting all who mourn, bestowing upon them a crown of beauty in place of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and the garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. It is imperative that we respond to God’s story, which recounts what He has done for us. This story leads us to the cross, where we can exchange our shame for God’s honor, our sin for Christ’s righteousness, our pain for His healing, and our grief for His comfort. The result is that we become like oaks of righteousness—a planting of the Lord, displaying His splendor. This metaphor of the oak tree symbolizes stability and strength to endure life’s storms.
God sees and hears the cries of His people, and He intervenes to bring divine justice and divine favor, which offer healing and transformation from despair to joy, from ashes to beauty. He has penned a new story for your life, one of restoration and hope.