Isaiah's Good News

I. Base Texts: Isaiah 61:1-4, Luke 4:17-19

II. Isaiah's Good News: 6th Century BCE
   A. Isaiah, writing sometime around 700 BCE, to Jews of ca. 540 
      BCE
      1. Isaiah writing to a later generation (cf. Isaiah 8:16)
      2. Jews still in exile in Babylon, soon to be set free by 
         Cyrus (cf. 2 Chronicles 36)
   B. Isaiah writing to comfort, encourage Jews of the day
   C. Liberation spoken of in terms of the Jubilee (Isaiah 61:1-2)
      1. Leviticus 25
      2. Jubilee year: every 50th year, all Hebrew debt slaves to 
         be freed, any land sold by Hebrew to be restored-- year 
         of redemption and release
      3. Special overtones with this period!
      4. 2 Chronicles 36:21 (cf. Jeremiah 21:5, 12)
      5. Israelites had previously not obeyed God in giving the 
         land its regular Sabbath every seventh year for 490 years 
         (Leviticus 25:4-7)
      6. The Chronicler understands the 70 years of exile spoken of 
         by Jeremiah as the land obtaining the 70 years of rest it 
         deserved
      7. Thus, the next step would be for Israel to have the 
         Jubilee that would follow the seventh Sabbath 
         (cf. Leviticus 25)!
      8. The land has enjoyed its Sabbath, and the people can now 
         enjoy the Jubilee-- the year of the LORD's favor!
   D. The Message
      1. Good news to the poor (Isaiah 61:1): they will obtain 
         land anew in Israel
      2. Bind up the brokenhearted: return to the land they lost
      3. Liberty to the captives, opening of prison: no longer 
         compelled to remain in Babylon
      4. Proclaim the year of the LORD's favor (Isaiah 61:2): the 
         Jubilee concept
      5. Day of vengeance: God's judgment on Babylon
      6. Comfort the mourning, giving them good things 
         (Isaiah 61:2-3): renewal, restoration
      7. Building up ruins, raising up devastations, repair ruined 
         cities (Isaiah 61:4): rebuilding of Jerusalem, Judah
   E. Isaiah's message is indeed good news for the Jews!
      1. Release from exile
      2. Return to the land
      3. Restoration of fortunes

III. Isaiah's Good News: 1st Century CE
   A. The reality of the message of Isaiah, however, would be 
      fulfilled in the first century CE by Jesus of Nazareth!
   B. Jesus in Nazareth (Luke 4:16-17)
      1. Not long into His ministry
      2. Comes into synagogue, opens and reads from Isaiah 61:1-2
   C. Isaiah 61:1-2 fulfilled in Jesus (Luke 4:18-22)
      1. Spirit of the Lord upon Him (Luke 4:1)
      2. The Anointed One (Acts 2:36)
      3. Good news to the poor (Luke 7:22-23)
      4. Liberty to the captives (John 8:31-36)
      5. Recovering of sight to the blind (Luke 7:22-23, John 9)
      6. Set oppressed at liberty (demon possession-- Matthew 4:24)
      7. Proclaim the year of the Lord's favor (Luke 19:1-10)
   D. Isaiah, therefore, is foreseeing Jesus' ministry!
      1. Jesus establishes that Isaiah 61:1-2 is fulfilled in the 
         hearing of the Nazarenes (Luke 4:21)
      2. It can be seen as a type of purpose statement for Jesus: 
         this is what He is here to do!
      3. Isaiah's good news leads to Jesus' good news, the 
         proclamation of the good news (euanggelion, gospel) of 
         the Kingdom of God (Luke 4:43)
   E. Jesus and the Gospel, therefore, are the fulfillment of the 
      words of Isaiah!

IV. The Good News in Isaiah's Good News
   A. Isaiah 61:1-4, Luke 4:18-19 popular in social justice 
      circles
      1. God does have concern for the poor and dispossessed in 
         society (Isaiah 1:16-17, James 1:27)
      2. But this is not really what Jesus' mission is about!
   B. The Good News of the Kingdom of God is not about the physical 
      as much as it is about the spiritual conditions of men!
   C. Good News About Jesus
      1. The Spirit of the LORD was upon Him, directing Him to do 
         the work of the Father (cf. John 8:12-20, etc.)
      2. He is the Christ, the Holy One of God 
         (Luke 9:20, John 6:68-69, Acts 2:36)
   D. Good News For Men
      1. Good news to the poor: poor in spirit (cf. Matthew 5:3)
      2. Those who are captive in sin can be freed through Jesus 
         (John 8:31-36, Romans 6:15-23)
      3. Those who could not discern God's will can now understand 
         it (John 9:35-41, 1 Corinthians 2:6-16)
      4. Those oppressed by sin or any form of bondage set free 
         (John 8:31-36, Romans 8:1-16, Galatians 3:28)
      5. The time of the Lord's favor-- the offer of salvation-- 
         is proclaimed (2 Corinthians 6:2)
   E. Isaiah's good news sets forth the Gospel of the Kingdom: 
      those who believe and obey Jesus Christ have the redemption 
      from sin and hope of eternal life!
   F. A Jubilee indeed!

V. Conclusion
   A. Isaiah's good news is refreshing indeed!
      1. The message initially comforted Israel in exile
      2. Its full power is made manifest in the life, death, and 
         resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth
   B. What do you think about the Good News?
   C. Are you in bondage or have you been set free?
   D. Do you triumphantly expect the ultimate Jubilee?
   E. Let us accept and proclaim this good news for all mankind!
   F. Invitation/songbook