The Glorious Jubilee

When you reflect on Christmas day, what comes to mind? There is preparation, anticipation, and (hope for!) relaxation. We're in a season of hope, of redemption, and once we sift through the commercialism, we find a Savior. Yes, the reason for the season. And we celebrate with joy! But Christmas lasts only a day. Let's take a look at a season that brought preparation, anticipation, and relaxation that lasted a whole year. In the book of Leviticus, we see the word 'Jubilee'. It's from the Hebrew word "yobel" meaning "a ram's horn, trumpet". When the Jubilee was announced, there would be a blowing of a horn for all of Israel to hear. By reading scripture, we can see the significance of the Year of Jubilee to Old Testament Israel, but there is also symbolism and great significance for us as Christian believers today. Let's take a look!

Leviticus 25:8-12 

Count off seven sabbath years—seven times seven years—so that the seven sabbath years amount to a period of forty-nine years. Then have the trumpet sounded everywhere on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the Day of Atonement sound the trumpet throughout your land. Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you; each of you is to return to your family property and to your own clan. The fiftieth year shall be a jubilee for you; do not sow and do not reap what grows of itself or harvest the untended vines. For it is a jubilee and is to be holy for you; eat only what is taken directly from the fields.

Every fifty years came the Year of Jubilee. On the Day of Atonement, the trumpet would sound and liberty would be proclaimed throughout all the land. This was an incredibly significant year! Slaves and prisoners were set free. Anyone in debt was released of what they owed. Property that had been confiscated for unpaid debts would be returned. There would be no sowing, reaping, planting or gathering. This year was to be holy. And no doubt a celebration! Full of joy, hope and redemption. Now the Year of Jubilee began on the Day of Atonement. The Day of Atonement was an Old Testament holy day. The Sabbath of Sabboths. It symbolized the atoning of sin. It represented a release from the debt of sin; a washing away and renewal; slaves of sin set free! And a day of absolute rest. Why? Because the work of righteousness comes from God and not of our own effort.

1 John 2:2 says, "He [Jesus] is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world."

We are in our own Year of Jubilee. It began on that first Christmas with a baby in a manger, and it lasts for eternity! The atoning of sin was  fulfilled by Jesus on Calvary's cross. Our debt was paid and we were released from captivity. We were restored to God and our very lives were given back to us. Our debt was unattainable. We would never be able to give back all that we had taken from God. But He says to us, "Rest. The work has been done. Not by your own efforts. I am the one who restores you and I love you tenderly." And one day soon the trumpet will sound again, and all will hear. Not  to announce the beginning of a year, but to announce the beginning of forever...

And so, may we not be carried away by the hustle and bustle of Christmas and all this season brings. May we remember to bask in the free grace of Jesus Christ, and rejoice in our freedom from sin. Life renewed, hope restored.

Merry Christmas, and Happy Jubilee!