JUSTICE
God’s kingdom is good news for the outsider and the have-not.

‘Isn’t it clear by now that God operates quite differently? He chose the world’s down-and-outs as the kingdom’s first citizens, with full rights and privileges.’ (James 2:5,The Message)

CHECK OUT the opening chapters of Luke. They all begin with big-wigs (King Herod, Caesar this, Caesar that, governor the other, High Priests, tetrarchs...) but then immediately wheel round to focus on “nobodies” on the edge of things – two childless pensioners, an obscure village woman, a freak in the desert, a bunch of illiterate shepherds.

The point? This is their story, not the story of the big cheeses. The human map is being re-drawn, the world is “being turned upside down”. The world’s way of measuring a person’s worth – wealth, power, status – is being over-turned.

The early chapters of Luke aren’t about pop stars. It’s an unmarried pregnant teenager who sings, “He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but the rich He has sent empty away.” (Luke 1:52-53)

Then Zechariah, an obscure priest joins in: “The rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death.” (Luke 1:78-79)

And John the wilderness weirdo sings verse three: “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain made low!” (Luke 3:4-5)

At first glance this may seem to be about free lunches, holidays for refugees and, er, landscape gardening?

Actually, it’s about the justice which has arrived with the king – in effect, the privileged high-ups (mountains) will be humbled and the down-on-their-luck (valleys) lifted. The hungry fed; the dispossessed given a sunny home. Heaven’s reign arriving.

So the king of the poor puts it like this. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor… to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” (Luke 4:18-19)

Favour for whom? Draw your own conclusions.

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