Monday, October 25, 2010

Messiah

Isaiah 61:1-2
"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
2
to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor."

Luke 4:17-21
The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him (Jesus). Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
18"The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
19to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

20Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, 21and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."

Jesus was not cryptic about His identity. Early on in His public ministry He returned to His hometown of Nazareth, stood in the synagogue and read from the prophet Isaiah. The prophesy He chose was not random. Isaiah 61 is a messianic prophesy concerning the salvation of the Lord. The proclamation of the Lord's Spirit and His anointing clarify that this prophet is more than just a prophet. Only kings and high priests were anointed. These two offices would be responsible for such things as liberating prisoners and proclaiming Jubilee yet only the messiah (literally "anointed one") would be qualified for both, being both priest and king (Psa 110 & 2).
The interesting thing about Jesus proclamation is that He stopped half way through the prophesy. Jesus knew that His mission would be split in two halves. The re-establishment of Zion, vengeance to His enemies and restoration of His kingdom would have to wait until his second coming.

Lord prepare me for Your return. Let me be found ready and busy doing Your will. Amen.

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