ISAIAH 61

He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
    because he has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
    and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
    to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.

Then 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.  He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”  Luke 4:16-21 NIV

 “Now things were definitely out of the ordinary! The members of the synagogue thought they were going along to a normal Saturday meeting... but they got oh so much more than that! Jesus said 'today this scripture has been fulfilled.' It was a prophecy given by Isaiah that had sat unfulfilled for the previous 700 years. But that morning it was fulfilled. Jesus was saying 'I am the one it speaks of. I am the one who has been anointed to heal the broken-hearted and set the captives free.' He wasn't just quoting Isaiah. He was quoting what Isaiah had heard from Him, and about Him, 700 years ago! The people couldn't believe what they were hearing! Yet they were puzzled - Isn't this Joseph's son? Isn't this the carpenter? 'Jeziel, didn't Jesus do that extension on your home and build that fence?' 'Zachias, didn't Jesus build that cart for you?' 'He can't be the Messiah could He?' 'And yet, no one has spoken like this before. How gracious are His words!'”   (Isaiah 61 - Reasons for Rejoicing by I Gordon)

Isaiah’s prophecy was fulfilled by Jesus in the synagogue that day.  It was a proclamation to the members of the synagogue that He is the Messiah, the Son of the Living God who was in their midst but they did not receive it.  Their eyes were not open to the very fulfillment of that prophecy.

Jesus gave the disciples the authority to do what He did.  He commissioned them to go and spread the Gospel message.   Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.  When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.  Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  Matthew 28:16-20 NIV

 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.  Matthew 10:8 NIV

I believe that Jesus was showing us that not only was He anointed to do God’s work on the earth, but we have the same authority given by Jesus because His Holy Spirit dwells within us.  Jesus led by example.  He taught us how to live and how to love.  He is the embodiment of Who God is living in us.  Therefore, we should act in that anointing bringing the Gospel of the Kingdom which includes salvation as well as the healing of the mind, spirit and soul.

We are His emissaries representing the Kingdom of God not only in our words but more importantly in our actions.  Please pray the following prayer accepting and decreeing the anointing and authority that you have in Jesus Christ.

PRAYER:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me

To proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom

To make disciples of nations

Baptizing them in the name of the Father

And of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit

All authority has been given to me

To heal the sick, raise the dead, and drive out demons

Freely I have received, freely I give”

 

Marcella Ward September 29, 2021