Scripture: Isaiah 61
I. The good news Jesus announces changes lives.
A. In Luke 4:21 Jesus said that the prophecy of the Anointed One in Isaiah 61 referred to Him. Notice who Jesus came to announce good news for in vs. 1-3. Jesus came for the needy. The words about proclaiming liberty echo Leviticus 25:10: “And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you, when each of you shall return to his property and each of you shall return to his clan.”
B. Jesus came to bring good news to the poor (vs. 1). The poor are not only those in economic trouble. They are the victims and the downtrodden. They are those who are dealing with the consequences of sin – their own sin and the sin of others. He will free us from our prison. He will pay the debt we owe to God and set us free from sin and death. How would Jesus set us free? By paying the debt we owed to God for our sin: death.
II. The good news Jesus announces restores and expands His Kingdom.
A. In verse 4 Isaiah prophesies: “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.” What a comforting word for Jerusalem! But there is a greater fulfillment of this promise in Isaiah 61. Hebrews 13:14: “For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.” We are waiting for the New Jerusalem of heaven.
B. Verse 5 says that “strangers shall stand and tend your flocks; foreigners shall be your plowmen and vinedressers.” Gentiles like us, foreigners, strangers, will also be found in heaven. God’s kingdom will expand beyond the Jews. There is great reward for those who serve as priests in God’s kingdom. We will be rewarded with a double portion of joy (vs. 7).
III. The good news Jesus announces brings joy in salvation.
A. Jesus is joyful (vs. 10). He is a joyful bridegroom with a joyful bride. Revelation 19:7-8: “Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure” – for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.” Jesus had joy as he thought of saving us on the cross. Hebrews 12:2: “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Application:
Receive and believe the good news that Jesus announces of our salvation.
Sources:
The book of Isaiah
Commentaries by J.A. Motyer, Derek Thomas, David Jackman, Bob Fyall and Tim Chester.
Sermon Discussion Questions
1) Who did Jesus come to announce good news to (vs. 1-3)? How would Jesus bring joy instead of mourning to Zion (vs. 3)?
2) What has Jesus done for us in vs. 4-7? What are we still waiting for Jesus to do for us in these verses?
3) What does the fact that Jesus sees His relationship with His church as a bridegroom to a bride (vs. 10) say about His love and care for us? Since Jesus has given us His righteousness, how should we live now (vs. 9, 11).