Isaiah’s Encouragement - Part Two -                                                                                  G-2 

 The Job Description of Jesus!

 

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach the 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 proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor … to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion … 

… 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 rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.

Isaiah 61 (NIV)

 

How many times have you been at some social event or when meeting someone for the first time, you’ll hear things like: “I’m a teacher.”.  Or “I’m a coach.”  Or “I’m raising my family at home.”  And so on.  We begin to understand more about them and who they are and what they do.

Jesus TWICE used many of the words in the above reading from Isaiah to describe who he was, and what he did.  He said this to John the Baptizer’s friends, and even once in his home synagogue in Nazareth.  Crystal clear, no confusion, no “part-time”, no “learning” on the job, no “sometimes”, no “ifs”, no equivocation!

And here’s GREAT NEWS for you today: Jesus hasn’t changed his job description one iota!  He still is doing the same things for us, whether at church or around your kitchen table.  Reread the words above and invite him to do exactly what He said he does! 

 

He is ready to begin work right now!!!

 

1) Do you believe He still does now what He did then?  

2) Do you believe He wants to heal you like He healed so many people? 

3) Please re-read slowly and count all the things that He wants to do for all of us, today. 

4) What are the promises in this Scripture that you are in most need of? 

5) What “Good News” would you like to hear about?  And what does the word “poor” mean? 

6) What does “bind up” mean for you? 

7) What might be your “ancient ruins”?