On 4th January the British Prime Minister made five bold promises. He pledged to halve inflation, grow the economy, reduce debt, cut NHS waiting lists and stop small boats crossing the channel. He said, ‘I fully expect you to hold my government and I to account on delivering those goals.’ As the months have rolled by and targets have been missed, he may be wishing he hadn’t been quite so bold. That’s the problem with making promises when the ability to deliver on them is outside your control.
Two thousand years ago Jesus sat in a synagogue in his hometown of Nazareth and similarly made five bold promises. He said he would preach good news to the poor, proclaim freedom for prisoners, recover sight for the blind, release the oppressed and proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour. Having made the promises, he spent the next three years delivering on them everywhere he went because he had the power to do so. And when he returned to his Father in heaven, he sent the Holy Spirit to empower the church to continue to deliver on them.
While our Prime Minister may have to concede that he hasn’t been able to keep his promises, Jesus has and always will deliver on his.