Christ Coming to Honor Israel

Isaiah 61:1–11
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The prophet outlines for us that Jesus will have a two-fold ministry (vv. 1-3). In His First Coming, He will minister providing salvation and grace. In His Second Coming, He will provide judgment to the unbelievers and provide a second opportunity to the Jews. All of God’s promises to Israel will be fulfilled to the letter. These great passages in Isaiah look forward to that time of earthly glory, when Israel shall be the foremost of the nations. It shall all come to pass, exactly as recorded here. This chapter is a flashback to the days of the Messiah’s first appearance. It opens with his own words.

Luke’s gospel records that Jesus went into the synagogue at Nazareth on one occasion, as was his custom, and asked for the scroll of the prophet Isaiah (Lk 4:17-21). He unrolled it until he found the place where these words are written. Turning to this very spot, he read this passage about the Spirit coming upon him, anointing him, and that he was called to preach the gospel, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives, etc. He stopped reading in the middle of a sentence, following the words, “to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Then he closed the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, sat down, and said, “This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your hearing.”

After the Messiah’s Second Advent Israel will rebuild her ruined cities (vv. 4-9). Nations will bring their wealth to Israel. People everywhere will acknowledge that she is indeed God’s special people. God in His mercy says that His people have suffered enough. The people are to prepare themselves spiritually for His coming (vv. 10-11). The nations are to be informed that the Lord is coming to Jerusalem. When He arrives word is to be given throughout the world that He, Israel’s Savior, has come to reward the people of Jerusalem with His blessings.

Application

We are now under God’s favor, His wrath is yet to come. I am thankful that before the tribulation sets in I will be raptured out of here because of His promise to those of us who know Him.