Are We Good News?

Isaiah 61:1–9

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; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; 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. They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.

Strangers shall stand and tend your flocks; foreigners shall be your plowmen and vinedressers;  but you shall be called the priests of the Lord; they shall speak of you as the ministers of our God; you shall eat the wealth of the nations, and in their glory you shall boast. Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion; instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot; therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion; they shall have everlasting joy.  For I the Lord love justice; I hate robbery and wrong; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. Their offspring shall be known among the nations, and their descendants in the midst of the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge them, that they are an offspring the Lord has blessed.

The Gospel of Luke records that Jesus begins his ministry in Nazareth by going to the synagogue.  He is asked to read from the Isaiah scroll.  The first couple of sentences from Isaiah 61 above is what he read aloud.  After he had read them, he rolled up the scroll and announced to all the people, “today, this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”  (Luke 4:21) Here are the words he read once again:

“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; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor…”

The original Isaiah prophecy announced the good news to the poor, brokenhearted, those in bondage and in prison among the exiles of Jews longing for God’s restoration.  They would be free to return and rebuild their Holy Land.  They would be a “kingdom of priests,” those who would do the work of the Lord.  Isaiah’s words would be fulfilled again in the life and ministry of Jesus as he did what he announced he would do in that Nazareth synagogue.  The Isaiah text defines the core of the ministry of Jesus. The Father sent Jesus to do these things.

We are the heirs of this ministry.  “Just as the Father sent me, I send you,” Jesus says to his disciples the night before he was crucified.  Isaiah’s prophecy continues to be fulfilled by a new kingdom of priests – you and me.  We are to be good news to the poor.  We are to bind up the brokenhearted.  We are to work for the freedom of those in captivity.  We are to work for the release of those in all kinds of prisons.  We are to proclaim that God’s favor is available NOW!  Isaiah’s prophecy here is about the returning exiles and it is about Jesus, but it is also about you!  And it is all possible because of what Isaiah says first; The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me.  The Spirit of the Lord is upon you.  Spend some time connecting with that Spirit that is upon you.  As you do, let the Spirit reconnect you to the work that God has for you to do.

Prayer:  Spirit of the Living God, fall once again upon us so that we will live out our calling to be a kingdom of priests. Amen

Prayer Focus:  Pray for those in prison today.

Song:  The Spirit of the Lord – Graham Kendrick