Isaiah 61:1-2 The spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek: he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound. To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn.
Oh Friends, what good tidings of salvation to Zion! In Chap.61, Isaiah introduces the King who’ll rule the wonderful kingdom he describes in Chap.60; ‘where violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise. The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.’ (Is.60:18-19) Yes People, what a glorious day that will be in Zion. But who’s this monarch to rule over the new Jerusalem? ‘…a rod out of the stem of Jesse…and the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him…’ (Is.11:1-2) Friends, just as we expected; none other than our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. That’s why the Lord is such a great dramatist. He had Isaiah foretell Christ’s coming centuries before. Then, when Jesus came of age, He went to the synagogue in His hometown of Nazareth, and as was customary, stood up to read. And Friends, not by chance, but by the Lord’s design, He was given the Book of Isaiah to read from. And what do you think He read? ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised. To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.’ (Luke 4:18-19) Note though Friends, where He stopped, for the day of vengeance, judgement day had not yet come. When He sat down, ‘the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.’ (Luke 4:20-21) Yes people, it was a red letter day in the annals of Nazareth! And eventually, Jesus satisfied every claim made in Today’s Bit. ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me.’ After John baptized Jesus, God’s Spirit descended from heaven like a dove and alighted on Him, and a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my beloved Son, in whom I’m well pleased.’ (Mat.3:16-17) ‘The Lord hath appointed me to preach good tidings to the meek…’ After Jesus restored life to a widow’s son, His fame spread throughout the land. John heard of it and sent two of his disciples to ask Jesus. ‘Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?’ (Luke 7:19) John’s disciples was just in time to see Jesus heal many, so He answered them thus: ‘Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.’ (Luke 7:22-23) And all God’s people said, Hallelujah, Amen! So Friends, there’s no reason to dispute that Jesus was God’s Son. Isaiah prophesied it, and Jesus fulfilled the prophecy. Could any mortal man do the things He did? No way! Case closed! Put your trust in Him and He will set you free. Much LOVE!…oh ye of little faith…but great expectations…
Oh Friends, what good tidings of salvation to Zion! In Chap.61, Isaiah introduces the King who’ll rule the wonderful kingdom he describes in Chap.60; ‘where violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise. The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.’ (Is.60:18-19) Yes People, what a glorious day that will be in Zion. But who’s this monarch to rule over the new Jerusalem? ‘…a rod out of the stem of Jesse…and the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him…’ (Is.11:1-2) Friends, just as we expected; none other than our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. That’s why the Lord is such a great dramatist. He had Isaiah foretell Christ’s coming centuries before. Then, when Jesus came of age, He went to the synagogue in His hometown of Nazareth, and as was customary, stood up to read. And Friends, not by chance, but by the Lord’s design, He was given the Book of Isaiah to read from. And what do you think He read? ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised. To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.’ (Luke 4:18-19) Note though Friends, where He stopped, for the day of vengeance, judgement day had not yet come. When He sat down, ‘the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.’ (Luke 4:20-21) Yes people, it was a red letter day in the annals of Nazareth! And eventually, Jesus satisfied every claim made in Today’s Bit. ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me.’ After John baptized Jesus, God’s Spirit descended from heaven like a dove and alighted on Him, and a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my beloved Son, in whom I’m well pleased.’ (Mat.3:16-17) ‘The Lord hath appointed me to preach good tidings to the meek…’ After Jesus restored life to a widow’s son, His fame spread throughout the land. John heard of it and sent two of his disciples to ask Jesus. ‘Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?’ (Luke 7:19) John’s disciples was just in time to see Jesus heal many, so He answered them thus: ‘Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.’ (Luke 7:22-23) And all God’s people said, Hallelujah, Amen! So Friends, there’s no reason to dispute that Jesus was God’s Son. Isaiah prophesied it, and Jesus fulfilled the prophecy. Could any mortal man do the things He did? No way! Case closed! Put your trust in Him and He will set you free. Much LOVE!…oh ye of little faith…but great expectations…
SCRIP-BITS 