Islington Baptist Church November 4, 2001
Isaiah 61:1-3
Scripture readings: I Peter 1:3-12, Luke 4:16-30
Series: Jesus in the book of Isaiah
Today’s title: The Spirit led ministry of Jesus Christ
Last week we began a new series entitled “Jesus in the book of Isaiah”, and in doing so I challenged you to read the book of Isaiah. In the book of Isaiah there are dozens of direct references and allusions to Jesus and the ministry that he had.
Review of what we learned last week about Jesus from Isaiah 40:1-11
1. It’s a text which has hope and comfort as its overarching theme
2. The greatest words of comfort and hope communicated to us in Isaiah 40 is this: God/Jesus is coming.
In regards to Jesus’ coming, Isaiah 40 …
a. Anticipates the ministry of John the Baptist whose work it was to prepare people for the beginning of Jesus’ earthly ministry.
b. Taught the people of Isaiah’s day that Jesus’ coming would not be for a long time (Isaiah prophesied Jesus’ coming in 700 B.C)—and yet as the text emphasizes “God is true to His word”
c. Teaches that Jesus’ coming would be joyfully and loudly proclaimed—and indeed his coming was, for the angels appeared in the sky declaring his arrival
d. Presents to us a most beautiful image of Christ: the image of Jesus as a gentle shepherd.
As you and I carry on in our study of Jesus in the book of Isaiah today I would like to preface our study with these words from I Peter 1:10-12 “concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things”
This is a really neat text because….
Please turn with me to today’s text: Isaiah 61. Isaiah 61 as a whole is all about Jesus and his ministry; a ministry of word and deed. Our focus today is going to be Isaiah 61:1-3 (READ keeping in mind the passage of I Peter that I just quoted)
This morning for our scripture reading Luke 4:16-30 was read. In verses 18-19 Jesus announces that in him the prophetic words of Isaiah 61:1-2, which are before us presently, are fulfilled. Jesus’ claim was that Isaiah was speaking about him—and so with this said let us consider the portrait of Christ given to us in Isaiah 61
I. Jesus’ ministry was a Spirit led and directed ministry
Jesus did not come upon his accord nor did he come down to us to act upon his own initiative. Jesus came by the direction of God the Father, being set apart in a special way. Jesus came to do the Father’s will, so doing by the direction and leading of the Holy Spirit.
Listen to verse 1a again “The Spirit of the LORD God is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed me”
Jesus’ ministry was a Spirit led, Spirit directed ministry.
Before we further consider the role of the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ ministry note the portrayal of the Godhead here in this verse.
There is reference to the Spirit, there is a reference to Christ (the Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me), and there is a reference to the Father in the word “LORD”
Now let us think further upon this subject “the role of the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ ministry”, clearly anticipated here in Isaiah 61 and throughout the book of Isaiah.
-in his birth: to Mary the angel said “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you”
-At his baptism “the Spirit of God descended upon him like a dove and lighted upon him”
-his temptation: it was the Holy Spirit who led Jesus out into the wilderness and there Jesus was tempted by the Devil
-he drove out demons by the Spirit of God (Matthew 12:28)
-at times he spoke by the leading of the Holy Spirit; for in Luke 10:21ff it says “At that time, Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children…….”
So we see the point: Jesus’ ministry, spoken of in Isaiah 61:1ff was a Spirit led, Spirit directed one.
Now before we move on lets think about ourselves and the ministries we are involved in.
How Spirit led and directed are we?
Is the power of Spirit evident in our lives and in our service of Him?
Are we relying upon the Holy Spirit in our ministries and in our life?
Effective kingdom ministry and service is Spirit led and Spirit empowered.
We need to be a people who remain sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading and direction in our lives. It is the Spirit of Christ who is conforming us into the image of Christ.
The same Holy Spirit who came upon Jesus Christ at his baptism has been given to us. Jesus modeled to us one who conducted a Spirit led ministry and life. We need to follow in his footsteps.
II. In our passage today, Isaiah speaks, in quite a detailed fashion, of the Spirit led ministry that Jesus was set apart to do.
One of the things that stands out about the Spirit led ministry of Christ in this passage is this: it was going to be a ministry of word and deed.
Follow along with me in again in v.1b-3 taking special note of the Spirit led ministry that Jesus was going to have, and indeed did have.
1. Jesus’ ministry was one of liberation. He is here pictured as the ultimate liberator
Our text overflows with the theme of liberation. Jesus came to set spiritually captive people free. He came to give relief to the downtrodden, the hurting, those who are in mourning, and the oppressed. Jesus came to reach out to those whom the rest of society had rejected or denigrated –the poor, the widows, the lepers, beggars, and blind people, children, women
In part this text speaks to the great social and societal impact that Jesus came to impart.
Jesus didn’t just come to turn society on its head from an operational and organizational standpoint. This is secondary. Jesus pre eminently came to save us from our sins, to enrich us who were spiritually poor and free us who were locked in spiritual bondage under the control of Satan or the Devil.
As this most wonderful of all liberators, Jesus came to counteract the works of Satan. Slavery to sin, poorness of spirit, broken heartedness, spirit of heaviness, mourning; This is what Satan’s work has effected. Jesus came to change all that and ultimately to once and for all triumph over Satan upon the cross.
The Bible clearly, and repeatedly speaks of our greatest need: that of a Savior, because of our sins. The Bible clearly and repeatedly speaks of how all those outside of Jesus Christ are captives, enslaved to sin and under the power of the Devil and hence separated from God and under his wrath.
It is for and to freedom that Christ has called us….
Jesus is the ultimate liberator. As God took the Israelites out of land of Egypt-being called the house of bondage, Jesus takes us out of spiritual slavery, liberating us, setting us spiritually free, setting us free from the delusions of Satan and the tangled web of sin, giving to us eternal life.
2. Another of the great ministries of Christ revealed to us in this passage is that of Jesus preaching and teaching ministry. (Note the word preach in v. 1, proclaim v.1, proclaim v.2)
In Romans 10:15 which is drawn from Isaiah 52:7 it says “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!”
From Jesus’ lips came the words of life. He came to bring glad tidings of good things. From Jesus’ lips came words of comfort and consolation. From the lips of Jesus came a message straight from the heart of God.
There was no hesitation on Jesus’ part in proclaiming the message he was sent to bring. He proclaimed it faithfully. He proclaimed it fully. He proclaimed all and only that which the Father sent him to do.
The message Jesus brought was varied. He brought with him words of comfort, words of joy, words of liberation, words that called people to not hesitate in getting right with the Lord – for now is day of salvation –for note v.2 where it says “to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD”, words that proclaimed the coming judgment day of the Lord –often Jesus spoke of this future day of judgment, often he said “repent for the kingdom of Heaven is near”
Jesus had a great preaching and teaching ministry that was backed up by many wonderful works.
Before we move on and consider some other aspects of Jesus’ Spirit led ministry, here prophesied, consider for a moment v.2 where it says “To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD and the day of vengeance of our God”
In part, this reference concerns time and its passage.
In Ecclesiastes 3 it speaks of how there is a proper time for everything. God works according to such a principle.
As the Bible repeatedly reminds us, God has a timetable, his own timetable that He works according to.
From before the creation of the world God planned and set the date for the start of Jesus’ ministry here on earth. When Jesus read from today’s text in that synagogue where he was at his message was this “Now is the time” The OT scriptures anticipated and proclaimed the coming of Jesus and his saving work. Jesus broke into our history and world, according to the plan of the Father, according to the Father’s perfect time.
There is coming a day when time will be up. No longer will be the cry “Today is the day of salvation” rather the cry will be “Today is the day of judgment, the day of the vengeance of our God”
Have you turned to Jesus Christ?……….
Currently we are living in the age and time of opportunity—opportunity and time to get right with Him, turn to the Lord while you can, while He may be found.
3. Jesus’ Spirit led ministry, here anticipated by Isaiah, is seen to be a transformational ministry and work
Jesus does more than just liberate people; he changes them!
Wherever the teachings of Christ take hold, in society and in the hearts of men, changes take place.—think of the impact the teachings of Christ and the scriptures have had upon society as a whole
In further reference to changes taking place in a persons life when Christ comes in think of this: What is it the Bible says we are in Christ? “New creatures”.
Think of who and what you were before you came to Christ. Are you the same person? Can you not see the transformational work of Christ in your life?
What also is it that the Holy Spirit is doing to us who have called upon the name of Jesus?
–transforming us to be like Christ, fitting us for Heaven we being likened unto as his bride.
Our text is full of words that speak of the transformational working of the Spirit led Jesus.
-he binds up
-he heals broken hearts
-he liberates
-he comforts
-he brings true joy
-he takes away mourning
4. Another aspect of Jesus’ Spirit led ministry, here prophesied by Isaiah, is this: A people will be established who bring glory to God
Note v.3 where it says “That they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified” or as the NIV says “a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor
In the KJV and NKJV it says “trees of righteousness” trees is to general of a word here, oaks are the specific tree that is referred to in this verse
Oaks or Terebinth trees would be the biggest and mightiest trees of the land. All other trees are seen as paling before them. When Abraham entered the land what kind of tree was it that he settled under --and Oak tree, for it stood out against the landscape and afforded great shade.
Here in v.3 Isaiah prophesies that those so transformed by the work of Jesus Christ will stand out and are meant to stand out. Just as oaks stand out from the other trees of the Eastern world.
a. We are to stand out as great examples of what it means to be the followers of God
b. We are to stand out for the purpose of showing forth the greatness and glory of God.
Ultimately we are here reminded that we are not to be self focused. We are to be God focused. His glory, his honor, Him; He is to be our focus. The transformational work of Christ in our lives shows forth God’s glory for in us Christ and the glory of God is seen in increasing measure.
CONCLUSION
III. Jesus’ Spirit led life and ministry, here revealed to us by Isaiah ought to serve as a template for the way we live our lives as his followers.
Our examination of Jesus in this passage ought to bring us to the point of saying, I want to participate—in ways possible for me, in the ministries that Christ had to people.
-We are to be Spirit led people
-as Jesus was set apart to preach good news, we to have good news to preach and bring
-as Jesus ministered to people physically, emotionally, spiritually so we are to
