Isaiah 61:1-11

The Year of the Lord’s Favour

Who and When?He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up,

and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.”

Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

He is Servant and King

Anointed Servant “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight;I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations. (Isaiah

42:1)

He is Servant and King

Anointed Servant • The suffering servant – Isaiah 52:13-53:12• The loving servant – John 13:1• The humble servant – Philippians 2:5-11• The resolute servant – Isaiah 50:4—9• The obedient servant – Luke 22:42

He is Servant and King

Anointed King A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power,the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the

LORD— and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. (Isaiah 11:1-3)

He is Servant and King

Anointed King • Of the line David – 2 Samuel 6:16• A king on a donkey – Matthew 21:5, Zechariah

9:9• King of the Jews – Matthew 27:37• King of sinners – Luke 23:42• King of kings – Revelation 19:16• He is Redeemer and Judge

He is Redeemer and Judge

Redeemer• The word translated ‘freedom’ in verse 2 is a

technical word used for the ‘year of jubilee’ (Leviticus 25)

• The redeemer would seek to care for the interests of the family, redeeming people sold as slaves

• Jesus is our redeemer• The good news brings freedom for the oppressed • Jesus binds up the broken hearted • He came to seek and to save that which lost

He is Redeemer and Judge

Judge • The Hebrew word ‘goel’ which is often

translated ‘kinsman redeemer’ is also translated ‘avenger of the blood’ (Numbers 35:19)

• This redeemer will one day return as judge • God is just

His People Receive and Act

Receive • Christianity is all about grace • The good news is that Jesus brings

reconciliation • The divine exchange • The blessings of salvation can never be earned• God clothes his people – Isaiah 61:3, 10

His People Receive and Act

Act • Rebuilders of ancient ruins • There is a great need off rebuilding needed in

our community • Ministers of our God • The Spirit of the Lord anoints for a purpose

It is Now and Still to Come

Now • So many of these blessings are ours in Christ • Now is the year of the Lord’s favour• Why did Jesus stop mid-sentence?

It is Now and Still to Come

Still to come • Just as the universe had a beginning, it will have an end • Jesus is coming back • It every book in the New Testament • Encourage each other with these words – 1

Thessalonians 4:13-5:11• “In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he

commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.” (Acts 17:30-31)