The writings of the prophet Isaiah in one of the Old Testament books provide a clear prophecy of the first coming of the Messiah. He did not only prophesy the birth of Jesus Christ (Is. 7:14) but also the life (Is. 53:1-12) and His ministry (Is. 61:1-3). The writings of Isaiah were chosen to be the light for Old Testament believers in order that they might know the coming Messiah who would bear the iniquities of the world.
What did Isaiah prophesy concerning the ministry of the coming Messiah? Isaiah recorded in Is. 61:1, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.” This verse emphasizes the ministry of the prophet who has the Spirit of God toward those who are destitute, the poor and the brokenhearted. People who were in these situations were often oppressed by the rulers and the authorities. People who were financially poor were cheated and those who were poor in Spirit, were never fed with the truth. Corruption was rampant in the lives of the chosen people of God.
A close study of Is. 61:1 will show clearly that what the prophet Isaiah prophesied did not concern those who were merely financially poor but rather spiritually poor. Barnes rightly commented on this issue, "By the poor are meant all those who are destitute of comfort of this life, and who therefore may be more readily disposed to seek treasures in heaven; all those are sensible of their sins, or are poor in Spirit (Matt 5:3); and all the miserable and the afflicted (Is 58:7). . . . The Pharisees and Sadducees despised the poor, ancient philosophers neglected them; but the gospel seeks to bless them – to give comfort where it is felt to be needed, and where it will be received with gratitude."
Nevertheless the question remains: Who would do this ministry for God’s people? The people of Israel before and after the captivity were still the same and remained so in the New Testament time. Prophet after prophet had come and gone, yet the broken-hearted were never healed. Sorrow upon sorrow remained in the midst of the people and none there showed any mercy.
Luke 4:18-19 quotes from Isaiah 61:1. Jesus Christ quoted this when He was asked to read a portion of Scripture in one of the Synagogues in Nazareth. God the Father showed Him the verse from Is. 61:1 to be read in public. The hearers agreed with what Jesus had read, for they knew it would be fulfilled when the Messiah came. However the situation was changed when Jesus Himself declared, “This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears” (Luke 4:21). The Jews realized that Jesus was referring to Himself. Soon, the worshipers shouted and mocked at Him for they knew that He was the son of Joseph.
The fulfillment of this prophecy given was not declared by other prophets or apostles, but rather Jesus Himself. The claim that Jesus made in Nazareth was truly proven during the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. As Geldenhuys said, "God had sent Him to heal those who were broken-hearted and found themselves in spiritual distress; to proclaim deliverance to those who were captive in the power of sin and in spiritual wretchedness; to give back to the spiritually blind the power of sight; to cause those who were downcast and inwardly bruised to go forward in triumph; and thus to ‘proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, i.e. to announce the Messiah age – the period ushered in by His appearance, in which God will grant His salvation to His people."
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