Isaiah 61:1- 3

 Jesus has done much & performed many miracles. ◦ But, what can he do for ME? ◦ Tonight, we wish to answer that question!

 Like many texts in Isaiah, this passage has a dual meaning. ◦ On the one hand, it refers to Isaiah & his ministry. ◦ On the other hand, this text refers to Jesus’ ministry.  Jesus applied this text to himself (Lk 4:17-21).  We wish to explore this text to see what Jesus can do for us.

v 1

 “The Spirit of the Lord G OD is upon me, because the L ORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; 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” (v 1, ESV).

 The Israelites who would go into captivity would have every reason to despair.  Yet, Isaiah has an important message for them. ◦ God has sent him to preach good tidings to the poor. ◦ God has sent him to heal broken hearts.

 Jesus likewise gives hope. ◦ He gave hope to the woman caught in adultery (Jn 8:2- 11).  The scribes & Pharisees only wanted to test Jesus; they didn’t care what was right.  Jesus showed this woman forgiveness – he gave her hope. ◦ He gave hope to the publicly sinful woman (Lk 7:37-50).  This woman was known in town as a sinful woman.  The Pharisees grumbled because Jesus allowed a “sinner” to touch him.  Yet, he forgave the woman of her sin – her gave her hope.

v 1

 “The Spirit of the Lord G OD is upon me, because the L ORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; 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” (v 1, ESV).

 Isaiah would preach liberty to the captives & freedom to prisoners. ◦ Isaiah, in prophecy, promised the captives that they would return home. ◦ They would have captivity for 70 years, but they would then be free. ◦ This freedom refers to the Year of Jubilee.  During this year, all debts & obligations were released and all slaves were released (Lev 25:39-41).  This idea is a new start for the captives.

 Jesus frees us from captivity. ◦ We can be set free from sin (Rom 6:18).  Sin does enslave.  “The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him, and he is held fast in the cords of his sin” (Prov 5:22, ESV).  “They [false teachers] promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved” (2 Pet 2:19, ESV).  Sin can enslave to the point where we are trapped. ◦ Yet, Jesus gives us true freedom (Jn 8:31-32).

v 2

 God had appointed Isaiah & then Jesus “to proclaim the year of the L ORD ’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn” (v 2, ESV).

 Isaiah was told to announce the acceptable year of the Lord. ◦ This, too, refers to the Year of Jubilee.  The fiftieth year was to be proclaimed as a year of liberty (Lev 25;10). ◦ These Jews had every reason to worry about God’s favor.  Their being taken from their homeland would show God’s displeasure.  Judah had committed grave sins when God sent them into captivity & the Lord was turning his back on them.

 Jesus also brings God’s favor. ◦ “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation” (2 Cor 5:18-19, ESV). ◦ Jesus died that he “might reconcile us both [Jew & Gentile] to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility” (Eph 2:16, ESV).

 Isaiah also announces the day of vengeance. ◦ Although Babylon had served God’s purpose during the Exile, God would punish them. ◦ God’s people could take comfort in knowing that God promised vengeance upon their captors.  God will, likewise, punish our enemies. ◦ “God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you” (2 Thess 1:6, ESV).

vv 2b-3

 God appointed Isaiah & Jesus “to comfort all who mourn; 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 L ORD, that he may be glorified” (vv 2-3, ESV).

 Isaiah preached a message of comfort. ◦ Those who dwelt in Zion would have reason to rejoice – the city would be rebuilt! ◦ Isaiah would give them beauty for ashes & oil for mourning.  When in sorrow, individuals would put ashes on their head.  “Beauty” here refers to the turban one would wear to a party.  Instead of sorrow, God would give them reason to rejoice.  Oil symbolizes joy.  Individuals would anoint themselves with oil to show their joy.  These people would have every reason to rejoice.

 Jesus can give us rejoicing as well. ◦ We can rejoice because of what God has done for us (Is 61:10). ◦ We can have joy because we are in Christ.  There was joy in Samaria when Philip preached there (Acts 8:8).  We rejoice with inexpressible joy because of our salvation (1 Pet 1:8-9). ◦ With Jesus we have reason to rejoice.