“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 . . . to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.” (Isaiah 61:1-3)

When Jesus sat down in the synagogue of Nazareth and was handed the scroll to read, He unrolled it to this very passage, Isaiah 61, and read verse 1 and part of verse 2. Then He made the astounding pronouncement: “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21). Jesus was making the point that He was the one to fulfill Isaiah’s prophecy of restoration.

The prophecy at the end of the book of Isaiah focuses on the full restoration of God’s people that is still to be fulfilled in the future; yet Jesus says in no uncertain terms that “today” at least that portion of the prophecy was fulfilled. He is the anointed one with the Spirit who:
* preaches the good news
* binds up the brokenhearted
* proclaims freedom to captives
* releases prisoners from the darkness
* bestows a crown of beauty instead of ashes
* gives oil of gladness instead of mourning
* offers a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.

You need good news? Go to Jesus.

You need binding for your broken heart? Go to Jesus.

You need freedom from captivating sin or addiction? Go to Jesus.

You need release from Satan’s darkness? Go to Jesus.

You want to trade in the ashes of wasted time or a burnt-out life for a crown of beauty? Go to Jesus.

You want to finally find joy instead of the sorrow and mourning that has dogged your days? Go to Jesus.

You want to get out from under the weight of despair over pain or hurt or hopelessness and put on a garment of praise? Go to Jesus.

You want to trade shame and disgrace for everlasting joy? Go to Jesus.

No one else can make such offers–and no one else can deliver. Only Jesus can say it. Only Jesus can do it.

Only Jesus.