Early in his ministry, Jesus quoted Isaiah 61 and told his listeners "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." (Luke 4:18, 19) Although Luke quotes Jesus only reading parts of Isaiah 61:1 and 2, it is highly likely that Jesus read at least verses 1 - 3 if the whole chapter.
In this passage, Isaiah quotes the coming Messiah who is describing his mission and his target audience. It is evident that the Messiah is coming to help those who are hurting, who have serious physical, freedom or emotional/spiritual needs. Those who "have it all together", who are doing well, who have little felt need, don't even register on the list for whom the Messiah is coming.
According to this passage, the expected Messiah (Jesus) would come to preach good news to the poor (Blessed are the poor in Spirit); to bind up the brokenhearted (Blessed are those who mourn); to free captives and release prisoners from darkness (Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness).
His deep concern is for those who mourn, grieve and despair. This Messiah comes to minister with great compassion to those who have been wounded and beaten down by the sin of the world. The ministry of this gentle Messiah is so tender, described in one poetic sentence: "A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out." (42:3)
I am conscious now of poverty and pain as never before. While I have visited and ministered in impoverished countries before, now we are living in a developing country. While things are improving here, and signs of increasing wealth are evident, there are millions who live with very little. Daily we see those who sweep sidewalks and streets for a living; those whose only income derives from selling cheap lottery tickets on the sidewalk; multiple young men offering to shine shoes as their only source of income; sidewalk vendors who are scratching out a living. Vietnamese are hard working, but most of them work hard for very little pay.
Jesus came to love and care for those who live in poverty. He had and has deep concern for those at the bottom of the social scale. And He has a soft heart for those who are brokenhearted in this world of broken relationships. (Are not broken relationships, by death, departure or betrayal the cause of most broken hearts?)
Yes, Jesus has favourites according to Scripture. So if you are hurting today - if you face serious financial difficulty, suffer from an aching body or a mourning heart, chances are very good that you are one of His favourite people. He wants you to allow His love, His truth, His power, His promises to minister to your need.
In this passage, Isaiah quotes the coming Messiah who is describing his mission and his target audience. It is evident that the Messiah is coming to help those who are hurting, who have serious physical, freedom or emotional/spiritual needs. Those who "have it all together", who are doing well, who have little felt need, don't even register on the list for whom the Messiah is coming.
According to this passage, the expected Messiah (Jesus) would come to preach good news to the poor (Blessed are the poor in Spirit); to bind up the brokenhearted (Blessed are those who mourn); to free captives and release prisoners from darkness (Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness).
His deep concern is for those who mourn, grieve and despair. This Messiah comes to minister with great compassion to those who have been wounded and beaten down by the sin of the world. The ministry of this gentle Messiah is so tender, described in one poetic sentence: "A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out." (42:3)
I am conscious now of poverty and pain as never before. While I have visited and ministered in impoverished countries before, now we are living in a developing country. While things are improving here, and signs of increasing wealth are evident, there are millions who live with very little. Daily we see those who sweep sidewalks and streets for a living; those whose only income derives from selling cheap lottery tickets on the sidewalk; multiple young men offering to shine shoes as their only source of income; sidewalk vendors who are scratching out a living. Vietnamese are hard working, but most of them work hard for very little pay.
Jesus came to love and care for those who live in poverty. He had and has deep concern for those at the bottom of the social scale. And He has a soft heart for those who are brokenhearted in this world of broken relationships. (Are not broken relationships, by death, departure or betrayal the cause of most broken hearts?)
Yes, Jesus has favourites according to Scripture. So if you are hurting today - if you face serious financial difficulty, suffer from an aching body or a mourning heart, chances are very good that you are one of His favourite people. He wants you to allow His love, His truth, His power, His promises to minister to your need.
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