Isaiah 61: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 brokenhearted, 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; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.
Isaiah foretold the ministry of Jesus hundreds of years before it happened. I’m sure some of what the prophets wrote they didn’t understand. Isaiah was probably mind boggled as was John when he received the Revelation. But these things have happened or will happen.
In Luke 4 Jesus quotes this portion of Isaiah’s writing and said This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. Jesus was saying ‘I’m the one’. Jesus was in the synagogue, so if he felt the need to go to church, shouldn’t we? From the time Jesus came as a baby to the next time he comes as King of Kings, we’re the comma in between.
Verses 1-3 outline the characteristics of Jesus’ ministry. They are a blessing. He’s a healer. He was and still is. It’s a tremendous blessing to have good health, but many of us have underlying health conditions. We’ve got something going on physically. When Adam sinned, it brought sin to the human race. He and Eve began to die; it was a process. From the time we’re born to the time we die, we will have something wrong with this body. But it’s a greater blessing to have spiritual health. Isaiah 53:5 says by his stripes we are healed. I still believe in divine healing. Here is 2020, he is still the divine healer. It is a blessing to have good physical health and good spiritual health. Because of what Jesus did on the cross, we’re healed spiritually of sin. A doctor can set a broken leg, but he can do little to help a broken heart. There is a Great Physician who can. It is Jesus Christ himself. Dr. Jesus is the one to go to. He makes house calls! He’ll go home with you and be there when you close your eyes and when you awake.
He has a lot of admirable qualities. He is a skillful physician. We look for a good reputation from a doctor. He has one. He can heal broken hearts, bind up the wounded and bring home the backslider. He’s a tender physician. Some doctors have no bedside manners. If you could have a skillful doctor or one with a good bedside manner, which would you choose? Skillful, right? Jesus is both. Jesus is an inexpensive doctor. There was a man in my church who got very sick, was in the hospital for weeks, and had no insurance. His bill would have been astronomical. It was suggested that as his pastor I write a letter to the board. His entire bill was written off. If there was a good doctor in Smyth County who didn’t charge, he/she would have no trouble getting patients. Jesus is the best doctor, and he has trouble getting patients. Some people don’t know about him. Most doctors get their reputation by word of mouth. We need to be getting the word out about Jesus. Jesus is easily accessible. It’s hard to get in to see a specialist. How can a person get an early diagnosis when it takes three months to get an appointment? That will never happen with Jesus. He’s always there. He’s eager to see you and is no respecter of persons. You’re as important to him as the President in the eyes of God. He that comes to him will not be cast out. Jesus is available and can do major heart surgery. He takes out the black heart of sinful man and puts a new one in. There is no recovery time and it will be painless. All you have to do is ask.
Jesus is a deliverer. Liberty in these verses refers to the Year of Jubilee. Leviticus 25 tells us that every 50th year was a Year of Jubilee. Some important things happened. Ancestral possessions lost due to poverty were restored to ensure the land of Israel remained in Israel. No crops were to be raised. It would rest in the 49th year because that was dictated for every 7th year. So the land would rest both the 49th and 50th years. Anyone in bondage–a person who sold himself to a creditor to work off a debt–was freed. If you’ve never accepted the Lord, you’re in bondage. Remember the story of Lazarus being raised from the dead. He came out bound in the grave clothes. Jesus said to lose him and let him go. I was bound. Jesus’ blood from Calvary caused Satan to have to turn loose of me. I’ve been set free! The Bible says he who commits sin is a slave to it. Is not an alcoholic enslaved to alcohol? A gambler to gambling? A sinner to the flesh? Jesus said if the Son set you free, you’re free indeed. I’m glad I’m free. Come to the Lord for deliverance.
Jesus is a comforter. People seek comfort in all the wrong places. No vaccine gives it. Get hold of Jesus Christ, and you’ll feel at peace. When we receive him, we receive the comforting power of the Holy Spirit. Without the Spirit we are not a child of God. He’s the One who stands alongside us to strengthen us. When Jesus was taken away, another Comforter came; through him our prayers are carried to the throne room. As our defense attorney, he tells God, the judge of all, that we have been covered by the blood. We have an advocate in Jesus Christ.
We have a healer, physically and spiritually. We have freedom and deliverance. We have a comforter. God has been good to me. He’s never failed. Invite him into your heart.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 