Brown, Cameron, Clegg & Jesus

This week has seen the launch of the manifestos of the various political parties, though political commentators have been quick to point out that the British public doesn't exactly seem very excited by the prospect of a General Election! Many people appear to have been turned off by the shenanigans at Westminster over recent years. Even politicians themselves concede that their standing and reputation in the eyes of the public is at an all-time low. Perhaps the long-awaited TV debates between the three main party leaders will engender some excitement, though the events themselves appear to be very closely stage-managed affairs.

Manifestos are designed to act as a statement of principles and intentions. I wonder how many people actually take the trouble to read through the various political party manifestos? And can we trust what is in them, anyway?

The gospel writer, Luke, records an incident at the beginning of Jesus' public ministry. It takes place in Nazareth, where Jesus spent his formative years. In the local synagogue, Jesus reads a passage from the writing of the prophet Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favour has come." There is a sense in which Jesus was here presenting his personal manifesto. He is anointed by the Spirit of God to fulfil the role and ministry which God the Father had called him to. He came to set people free from the curse of sin and death; his path which would lead in due course to his own crucifixion and death (and subsequent glorious resurrection!)

As we listen to the words of Brown, Cameron and Clegg, we have the choice to accept or reject what they say and the promises they give. It is the same with Jesus. He offers us the gift of new life through faith in him; he says to us, as he said to the first disciples, "follow me." But the response we make to Jesus is of far more significance than the response we make to the party leaders. As the apostle John says in his first letter, "God has ... given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life."

Choose life!