Isaiah 61: Messiah’s Work of Restoration
In Luke 4:16-30, Yeshua said Isaiah 61:1-2a referred to Him. Isn’t everything now “fulfilled in Christ”?
“The Spirit of the Lord God is on Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,....” (1-2a)
FULL STOP. Sit Down. No further. His purpose. His timing. His ways. But keep reading. There is much to be accomplished. Just because there is One who fulfills everything, it does not mean everything is fulfilled.
Why halt mid-thought? Mid-mission? Mid-sentence? Why not continue through Isaiah 61 and proclaim that Zion’s restoration had arrived?
Keep reading through Isaiah 61. Zion's restoration has been delayed for the time being.
Delayed, not denied.
Postponed, not canceled.
If Messiah had continued reading Isaiah 61, what would He have announced?
“and the day of our God’s vengeance; to comfort all who mourn, to provide for those who mourn in Zion; to give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, festive oil instead of mourning, and splendid clothes instead of despair. And they will be called righteous trees, planted by the Lord to glorify Him.” (2b)
The Messiah did not exact vengeance at His first coming. But will He will exact vengeance upon His return? Will He comfort Zion, the Jewish people?
Yes. This major phase of restoration is described in the rest of the chapter (vs. 4-11). Bible readers would do well to remember that Messiah’s mission is not complete. He has work to accomplish. He started, but He’s not finished. The focus of His future work is all facets of Zion’s restoration. Though most Gentiles may forget or deny it, the Word says it.
The delay is not…
a cancellation…
a removal…
an abandonment…
a mystical fulfillment that twists the text and steals the blessings of the “firstborn son” (Ex. 4:22.)
The delay is …
God’s design…
beautiful….
perfect….
aligned with God’s faithful character…
worth proclaiming and rejoicing over….
According to the plain sense of the text.
What will the Messiah accomplish upon His return?
Zion’s physical restoration
“They will rebuild the ancient ruins; they will restore the former devastations; they will renew the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.” (4)
Zion’s spiritual restoration
“But you will be called the Lord’s priests;...” (6a)
Zion’s material enrichment
“you will eat the wealth of the nations, and you will boast in their riches.” (6b)
Zion’s double blessing of the “firstborn son” (Ex. 4:22)
“Because your shame was double, and they cried out, “Disgrace is their portion,” therefore, they will possess double in their land, and eternal joy will be theirs.” (7)
Zion’s reward through the New Covenant contract (Jer. 31:31-34)
“I will faithfully reward them and make an everlasting covenant with them.” (8)
Zion’s recognition among the nations
“Their descendants will be known among the nations, and their posterity among the peoples. All who see them will recognize that they are a people the Lord has blessed.” (9)
Zion’s King Messiah rejoices in what He will accomplish for His Chosen People and choice Land
“I greatly rejoice in the Lord, I exult in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation…” (10)
Zion will blossom & bloom because God will make her prominent among the Gentiles
“For as the earth produces its growth, and as a garden enables what is sown to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.” (11)