Discover His heart: He has anointed us to bring Good News
Several years ago I was waiting in my car for my daughter to finish her music lesson and reading my scripture portion for the day that happened to be in Isaiah. I was going through a difficult time, dealing with some minor health issues and also with some ministry challenges, and I remember saying, “Lord, can’t we do better today than Isaiah. Come on!”
While Isaiah seems to be mostly about judgment, my reading that day happened to include Isaiah 61. As I began to read the first verse, I felt His Spirit fill my little car, and before I knew it, I was singing the Word, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. He has anointed me to preach Good News, Good News. To bind up the brokenhearted, to set the captives free, to deliver the prisoners from darkness and to comfort those who mourn.” I sang it over and over again until my spirit was soaring with His. I believe He gave me a song that day to highlight His mission and to remind me of my mission.
@ Isaiah 61
“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord’s favor has come…” (1-2) These words in Isaiah repeated by Jesus in Luke 4 sent a shock wave through those gathered in the synagogue of Nazareth in Jesus’ day when, “He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at him intently. Then he began to speak to them. ‘The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!’” (Luke 4:20-21) This was how Jesus announced His earthly ministry.
Jesus did not complete the scripture in Isaiah which continued, “…and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies.” (2) Most feel he stopped because the day of God’s judgment had not yet come, and the next time He came to earth would be the Day of Judgment. Today we are living in the time of the Lord’s favor, the time the Lord has given to save the lost, the acceptable year of the Lord, the year of Jubilee! This was His mission.
What did Jesus come to do? Anointed by the Spirit of Adonai Yahweh, the Sovereign Lord, His mission was clear: He came as Prophet to preach the good news, the gospel of the Kingdom, to all those who would humbly listen. He came as Priest to heal the brokenhearted, all those who were broken and sought healing for body, soul and spirit. He came as King to deliver, as only a king could do, all those who were held captive by sin and sinful enemies. He came as Comforter to comfort all those who mourn.
This was His mission, and so it is ours as well. As Jesus was leaving this earth, He told His followers, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.’ Then he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’” (John 20:21-22) Isaiah prophesied that those who accept the One who sends us will receive “beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.” (3, KJV) How can we help but share this good news!
On that day so long ago when the Lord gave me His song, He was reminding me of His mission, my mission. He was encouraging me to not get bogged down with the challenges or heaviness of the mission, but to allow Him to breathe on me and receive help from His Holy Spirit. We are not alone in our mission; He has anointed us to bring Good News.
Moving Forward: All I can say today is, Holy Spirit, breathe on me and pour on the oil of joy.
Tomorrow @ Mark 1-2
Phyllis Benigas 