A Change of Status
I love historical facts. So today I want to share one I recently discovered.
In world war two German prisoners’ of war were given denim work clothes. It didn’t take long (by 1944) for the camps to become crowded and the denim to run out. So what did they do? They let them keep their captured winter clothes issued by the German army, but in white paint placed the letters PW on the back and striped the sleeves. When the war ended and the prisoners were released, each could request a small tin of blue dye. What for? So that they could dye their jacket an American shade of blue and erase the letters PoW from the back.
This brought about several advantages for the ex-soldier. With this dark blue color he was immediately recognized as a former Allied prisoner of war. As such, it was known to anybody, that he had gone through a screening and was clarified as a “normal” enemy combatant (not SS or known war criminal and most of all disarmed). So if seen in the streets by other Allied soldiers while returning home, he had a much smaller risk of getting stopped, arrested or even shot at, compared with a soldier still in his normal uniform (seen as still potentially armed).
Why am I telling you this? Last weekend was confirmation weekend. The young adults were up there in white robes. Through their baptism and confession of faith they were dyed clean and set free from sin.
This coming weekend in Pentecost. We are called to go out and set other prisoners free.
I want to end with Isaiah 61 (ESV). Read what was written about the coming Messiah. Now think about that in context with what the Lord says about the Holy Spirit in John 14:26 when He promises you an advocate who will teach you and help you remember the Scripture.
So now, read Isaiah
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;[a]
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;[b]
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
3 to grant to those who mourn in Zion—
to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.[c]
4 They shall build up the ancient ruins;
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.
5 Strangers shall stand and tend your flocks;
foreigners shall be your plowmen and vinedressers;
6 but you shall be called the priests of the Lord;
they shall speak of you as the ministers of our God;
you shall eat the wealth of the nations,
and in their glory you shall boast.
7 Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion;
instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot;
therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion;
they shall have everlasting joy.
8 For I the Lord love justice;
I hate robbery and wrong;[d]
I will faithfully give them their recompense,
and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
9 Their offspring shall be known among the nations,
and their descendants in the midst of the peoples;
all who see them shall acknowledge them,
that they are an offspring the Lord has blessed.
10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;
my soul shall exult in my God,
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;
he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11 For as the earth brings forth its sprouts,
and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up,
so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise
to sprout up before all the nations.
Rejoice in the one who died that you may be dyed
The one who was subject to death that you may live
And now remember, and tell
- Pastor Dan