◄ What Does Isaiah 61:1 Mean? ►

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners;

Isaiah 61:1(NASB)

Verse of the Day

This glorious prophecy of Christ's Messianic appointment openly displays the triune Godhead: "The Holy SPIRIT of Israel's Lord GOD Almighty rests upon ME." And in the gospels we see a beautiful fulfilment of this verse, where the Lord Jesus Christ as Israel's appointed Messiah King, went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day (as was his custom) and He stood up, unrolled the scroll of the prophet Isaiah, and found the place where it was written: "The SPIRIT of the Lord GOD is upon ME."

Jesus was the visible representation of the invisible God, and He only said and did those things that He heard from His Father in heaven. Christ was uniquely qualified to apply this glorious prophecy to Himself, for He had indeed been anointed of God to bring good news to the afflicted, to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to those that were captive to sin, and freedom to those that were enslaved by Satan.

The mystery of God is bound up in truth of the Trinity so that the Words of the Father can be spoken by the Son Who is the incarnate Word of God. The inspired Scriptures are the unique, supernatural work of the Holy Spirit: "And the Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us," and those that were present beheld His glory: "The glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth."

The Lord Jesus was identified by the Father as: "My Beloved Son," and He was anointed by the Holy Spirit, filled with the Holy Spirit, and walked in spirit and truth. Jesus lived His entire life in complete and utter dependence upon God, content to lay aside His eternal glory and pray in humble obedience: "Thy will not mine be done."

The mystery of God is indeed bound up in the truth of the Trinity, for God Almighty broke into time, space, and the history of mankind, and He visited His own creation for thirty-three years in the unique person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Fully God yet fully Man, He came as the Christ of God, the Messiah of Israel - the Anointed and Beloved Son of the Father and God's appointed Saviour of the world.

Christ was indeed uniquely qualified to proclaim: "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me, to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners."

My Prayer

Heavenly Father, my understanding is so limited of all You are and the untold mysteries that surround the triune Godhead and the incarnate Word of God. Yet You loved me so much that You came in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ to die for my sins so that I might receive the good tidings of great joy which have been given to all people; the joyful news that by grace through faith in Him, I have been forgiven of my sins. Thank You that the Holy Spirit indwells me, comforting me and binding up my broken and bleeding heart. Thank You that in Christ, I have been set free from the bondage to sin, from the curse of the Law, and from enslavement by Satan. Praise You, Lord! AMEN.