Freed to FollowSample

Q: How can I be saved?

A: We can be saved when we confess Jesus as Lord and believe that God raised him from the dead

To someone trapped in the dark, a beam of light offers radical hope. Just that glimmer of light promises you’re not alone. Help is on the way!

The passage you’ll read today is from the Old Testament–the part of the Bible that comes before Jesus’ birth. For thousands of years, God’s people, the Israelites, awaited the fulfillment of God’s promise to send a Rescuer who would free them from their sin. In these verses, the prophet, Isaiah, is comforting and encouraging them that hope is on the way. He’s bringing them the good news of salvation: The dark won’t last forever! The light is coming!

Isaiah’s audience was looking forward to Jesus’ arrival. We get to look back on both the Old and New Testaments to see how God fulfilled those promises in the person of Jesus. We can read the full story of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection and experience how knowing Jesus moves us from darkness into the light.

Read: Isaiah 40:1-11 and Mark 1:1-4

Reflection Questions:

1. Using the verses from Isaiah and Mark, how would you describe the “Good News” of salvation? What is God promising us through the person of Jesus?
2. Is there an area of your life where you need good news, comfort, and hope? How do these verses encourage you?