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 GOD is upon me, because the LORD 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 GOD is upon me, because the LORD 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 LORD’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 LORD, 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.