The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim 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
and the day of vengeance of our God,
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 joy instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.

// Isaiah 61:1-3 NIV

Isaiah 61 is the promise and prophecy of Christ’s coming. Jesus specifically quotes this prophecy in Luke 4 at a synagogue He is visiting in Nazareth. After reading the scroll, He simply says,

“Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

Jesus.

Jesus is the Scripture fulfilled.

Jesus is the “joy of every longing heart”.

Take a moment now to read Isaiah 61: 1-3 once again, and this time after every line, proclaim “JESUS”.

JESUS!
He is the promised one, the answer to all our longings, our hope in this dark world. Rejoice this Christmas because we know the fulfillment of the prophecies, and we live in His presence every day.

“Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.”
Written by // Tom Howard / R. H. Pritchard / Charles Wesley

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