Isaiah 61:1–3
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. – Isaiah 61:1
Click to read the passage
(This devotion was prepared by Ps Ruth) 9 December was an ordinary Tuesday. I went to church in the morning, and in the afternoon, visited homes together with a few brothers and sisters. By evening, when I returned home, I thought the Christmas period would be busy, so I decided to take the opportunity to go out and exercise. That was when the accident happened. I fell down two seemingly insignificant steps and ended up helpless on the ground. My husband pushed me home on his bicycle, and later I went to the hospital for an X-ray. The result was a bone fracture. I was put in a cast and sent home with a pair of crutches. During this time of restricted movement, as I prepared today’s Daily Manna, I felt it deeply. That sense of being confined, of suffering, and of longing to regain freedom is a shared desire of all who find themselves trapped in such circumstances.
This passage is one of the prophecies spoken by the prophet Isaiah, a declaration of the mission of the Lord’s Anointed One, the Messiah. When Isaiah spoke these words, he was describing the joy of Israel’s release from exile in Babylon. It was like the Year of Jubilee, when all debts were cancelled, all slaves restored to freedom, and all property returned to its original owners, as described in Leviticus 25.
Isaiah foretold that one would come from God, anointed by the Spirit, to proclaim good news to all who humbly wait for Him. He would come to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release those who are bound (v. 1). It is a beautiful picture of renewal and restoration in every way. Yet after the return from Babylonian exile, the complete fulfilment of this prophecy did not come. The people continued to fail, to suffer, and to live under oppression.
In Luke 4:16–21, the Lord Jesus personally quoted this passage. When we compare the two texts, we notice that Jesus read Isaiah’s words in the synagogue at Nazareth but stopped at the line, “to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour” (v. 2a; Luke 4:19). He did not continue with “the day of vengeance of our God” (v. 2b). This is because at His first coming, Jesus came “not to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:17). Judgment would be exercised at His second coming. Thus, the good news foretold by Isaiah also reveals the twofold mission of the Messiah: salvation and judgment (Isaiah 63:4).
Jesus declared, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21), making clear that His coming was the fulfilment of the prophet’s words. He is the One anointed by the Holy Spirit, sent to bring salvation to the world.
During this season of Advent, let us reflect on the first coming of the Lord Jesus. Through His death and resurrection, He has already accomplished our salvation. Yet we must not forget that Christ will come again, to cleanse and renew this world. For those who refuse to trust in Him, what awaits is the final judgment.
For all who humbly trust in Christ, His return will bring complete freedom. The prophet uses symbolic language: a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair (Isaiah 61:3). These images describe how, at Christ’s return, He will replace the sorrow, shame, and grief of His people with great glory, joy, and praise, so that God’s glory may be revealed and all who trust in Him may experience true freedom.
Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for Your precious promise. Though there is suffering in this world, You have overcome the world and given peace to all who trust in You. Help me, during this season of Advent, to turn my eyes once again to You. Whatever my circumstances may be, grant me faith to know that in You there is joy and peace. This grace that comes from You is something the world cannot take away. I pray in the victorious name of our Lord Jesus. Amen.
Click to read the passage
(This devotion was prepared by Ps Ruth) 9 December was an ordinary Tuesday. I went to church in the morning, and in the afternoon, visited homes together with a few brothers and sisters. By evening, when I returned home, I thought the Christmas period would be busy, so I decided to take the opportunity to go out and exercise. That was when the accident happened. I fell down two seemingly insignificant steps and ended up helpless on the ground. My husband pushed me home on his bicycle, and later I went to the hospital for an X-ray. The result was a bone fracture. I was put in a cast and sent home with a pair of crutches. During this time of restricted movement, as I prepared today’s Daily Manna, I felt it deeply. That sense of being confined, of suffering, and of longing to regain freedom is a shared desire of all who find themselves trapped in such circumstances.
This passage is one of the prophecies spoken by the prophet Isaiah, a declaration of the mission of the Lord’s Anointed One, the Messiah. When Isaiah spoke these words, he was describing the joy of Israel’s release from exile in Babylon. It was like the Year of Jubilee, when all debts were cancelled, all slaves restored to freedom, and all property returned to its original owners, as described in Leviticus 25.
Isaiah foretold that one would come from God, anointed by the Spirit, to proclaim good news to all who humbly wait for Him. He would come to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release those who are bound (v. 1). It is a beautiful picture of renewal and restoration in every way. Yet after the return from Babylonian exile, the complete fulfilment of this prophecy did not come. The people continued to fail, to suffer, and to live under oppression.
In Luke 4:16–21, the Lord Jesus personally quoted this passage. When we compare the two texts, we notice that Jesus read Isaiah’s words in the synagogue at Nazareth but stopped at the line, “to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour” (v. 2a; Luke 4:19). He did not continue with “the day of vengeance of our God” (v. 2b). This is because at His first coming, Jesus came “not to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:17). Judgment would be exercised at His second coming. Thus, the good news foretold by Isaiah also reveals the twofold mission of the Messiah: salvation and judgment (Isaiah 63:4).
Jesus declared, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21), making clear that His coming was the fulfilment of the prophet’s words. He is the One anointed by the Holy Spirit, sent to bring salvation to the world.
During this season of Advent, let us reflect on the first coming of the Lord Jesus. Through His death and resurrection, He has already accomplished our salvation. Yet we must not forget that Christ will come again, to cleanse and renew this world. For those who refuse to trust in Him, what awaits is the final judgment.
For all who humbly trust in Christ, His return will bring complete freedom. The prophet uses symbolic language: a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair (Isaiah 61:3). These images describe how, at Christ’s return, He will replace the sorrow, shame, and grief of His people with great glory, joy, and praise, so that God’s glory may be revealed and all who trust in Him may experience true freedom.
Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for Your precious promise. Though there is suffering in this world, You have overcome the world and given peace to all who trust in You. Help me, during this season of Advent, to turn my eyes once again to You. Whatever my circumstances may be, grant me faith to know that in You there is joy and peace. This grace that comes from You is something the world cannot take away. I pray in the victorious name of our Lord Jesus. Amen.