Read today’s texts first: Isaiah 60-62; John 1
MAXIMize YOUR DAY
When Jesus declares a prophecy applies to Him then proves it is true, that is the ultimate confirmation!
We’ve been looking at numerous messianic prophesies sprinkled throughout the book of Isaiah. Some are more obscure, like the description of Christ’s crucifixion (50:6), woven within another narrative. Some are obvious, clearly separated by the surrounding context, like all of chapter 53. But the most compelling prophecies are the ones Jesus Himself confirms. When He stood up in His hometown synagogue, He asked for the Isaiah scroll. When He found Isaiah 61, He read the first two verses:
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach 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 (61:1,2). Then He says Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing! That should be the ultimate confirmation.
Ironically, it wasn’t enough for the citizens of Nazareth. After all, they watched Jesus grow up as a normal kid in a normal family. When Jesus declared that Isaiah was talking about Him, basically proclaiming Himself as the Messiah, His friends and neighbours said, “isn’t this Joseph’s son?” Things escalated to the point they tried to push Him off a cliff (so much for supporting your hometown hero). Then, as further proof He was who Isaiah said He was, Jesus walks through the mob unscathed and sets out to fulfill every word of the prophecy!
“Lord, You were sent with a purpose determined before the world was formed. Thank You that I was included in Your eternal plans!”
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