What a Day That Will Be!
Isaiah 61:1: "The Spirit of the Lord 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."
God's people had long awaited the coming of his Messiah. Passages such as Isaiah 61 built the anticipation. When the Messiah came, the anointed one, he would come with good news, with great power, and restoration for his people. This good news often referred to a military victory; this messianic figure was one who would overcome the enemy and break the oppression of his people. In him the poor would find hope, the brokenhearted would find healing, and the captive would find freedom.
Isaiah anticipated this messianic one who would come with God's Spirit and with God's anointing power. In this anointing, the Messiah would serve as prophet, priest, and king. Throughout Israel's history, there were prophets, priests, and kings - all individuals anointed for a special role and time, but until the Messiah there was never one person who fulfilled all three roles. Salvation would be found in this coming Messiah.
This salvation referred to by Isaiah held a dual meaning. There was salvation of the Israelites from the Babylonian exile as the captives were set free and able to return to Jerusalem. They also looked ahead to a much greater salvation where the final sacrifice was made on behalf of God's people. In this salvation, the oppression of sin, death, and Satan would be broken.
While the Lord's salvation for the exiles in Babylon was a great one, the salvation achieved through Jesus Christ from sin, death, and Satan far surpassed the release from Babylon. These words were music to the Israelites' ears as they anticipated their Savior. These words can be music to our ears as we remember the salvation Jesus Christ has won for us. Jesus came to bind up our broken hearts; Jesus came to set us free from every oppressor. The prison doors are open. We are free!
We anticipate that final day when we will see him face to face in the new heaven and the new earth. There, we will have no broken hearts and no bondage. We will live in the freedom and abundance of God's redeemed and fully restored children. What a day that will be!
Reflection:
Are you living as one who has been healed and set free? This message of hope is for us today. The Messiah has come, and he has brought the good news of healing, hope, and restoration for you this very day.
God's people had long awaited the coming of his Messiah. Passages such as Isaiah 61 built the anticipation. When the Messiah came, the anointed one, he would come with good news, with great power, and restoration for his people. This good news often referred to a military victory; this messianic figure was one who would overcome the enemy and break the oppression of his people. In him the poor would find hope, the brokenhearted would find healing, and the captive would find freedom.
Isaiah anticipated this messianic one who would come with God's Spirit and with God's anointing power. In this anointing, the Messiah would serve as prophet, priest, and king. Throughout Israel's history, there were prophets, priests, and kings - all individuals anointed for a special role and time, but until the Messiah there was never one person who fulfilled all three roles. Salvation would be found in this coming Messiah.
This salvation referred to by Isaiah held a dual meaning. There was salvation of the Israelites from the Babylonian exile as the captives were set free and able to return to Jerusalem. They also looked ahead to a much greater salvation where the final sacrifice was made on behalf of God's people. In this salvation, the oppression of sin, death, and Satan would be broken.
While the Lord's salvation for the exiles in Babylon was a great one, the salvation achieved through Jesus Christ from sin, death, and Satan far surpassed the release from Babylon. These words were music to the Israelites' ears as they anticipated their Savior. These words can be music to our ears as we remember the salvation Jesus Christ has won for us. Jesus came to bind up our broken hearts; Jesus came to set us free from every oppressor. The prison doors are open. We are free!
We anticipate that final day when we will see him face to face in the new heaven and the new earth. There, we will have no broken hearts and no bondage. We will live in the freedom and abundance of God's redeemed and fully restored children. What a day that will be!
Reflection:
Are you living as one who has been healed and set free? This message of hope is for us today. The Messiah has come, and he has brought the good news of healing, hope, and restoration for you this very day.
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