Isaiah 61

We are familiar with the story of Jesus teaching in His hometown of Nazareth on a Sabbath that nearly cost Him his life:  His own people attempted to throw Him over a cliff but He walked through them to safety (Luke 4:16-30).  Why?  He read part of a sentence from the book of Isaiah and then proceeded to declare what He read was being fulfilled by Him those very days.  What did He read?

Isaiah 61:1-2a, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me, to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

He read about what He was fulfilling in front of them which was preaching the “good news”, the gospel, that there was help for the poor, the brokenhearted, the captives, and the prisoners.  He was offering them a “jubilee” – the year or time when all debts were released.  Jesus was offering His people a means to be debt free to God.  “Wait”, said they, “Are you not Joseph’s son?”  To that Jesus declared that a prophet was not accepted in His own country thus declaring Himself to be a prophet.  “Enough!” said they, and tried to kill this “son of Joseph” (they did not reckon Jesus the son of fornication that some try to pin on Mary based on John 8:41).  

Jesus faithfully fulfilled exactly what He read.  What He did not read (61:2b) was about His second advent bringing vengeance by God and a coming comfort for those of Zion.  Here it is:  “…and the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, 3 To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. 4 And they shall rebuild the old ruins, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations. 5 Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the foreigner shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers. 6 But you shall be named the priests of the Lord, they shall call you the servants of our God. You shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory you shall boast.
7 Instead of your shame you shall have double honor, and instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion.  Therefore, in their land they shall possess double; everlasting joy shall be theirs.

Of whom is Isaiah writing?  It is to those who mourn in Zion – those returning to places once desolated for generations and of old ruins.  Who?  Israel!  Jesus is going to bring about a new Israel! 

Isaiah says that the Jews will be no longer marked by mourning, ashes, and heaviness but rather comfort, beauty, and joy.  They will be blessed and God will be glorified.  They will be called the servants of God and they will be honored and rich with joy.  How can this be given their current status before God and in the world?  How?  Here – Zechariah 12:10-12, “And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn. In that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem…And the land shall mourn, every family by itself…”  

This passage reports on Jesus revealing Himself to the Jews and their seeing Him for Who He is – the precious Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world – their Redeemer.  And they will each repent of their sins, rebellion, rejection and hatred of God.  They will all cry out in confession and love to Jesus.  They will be saved by God’s amazing grace.  

And what will be the outcome of their change?  They will be marked by their love for God and God giving them beauty, joy, and celebrations.  God will make them as a fruitful vineyard and forest.  The land of ruins and desolations will be no more (Daniel 9:26).  Those who before lorded over them will serve them.  The Jews will be His priests and be blessed by nations/Gentiles and Jerusalem will be a place of rich blessings and great joy!  God will be glorified and they will be blessed!