Isaiah 61 & 62 -- A Little Mindbending Today

It’s hard to wrap my mind around the fact that Jesus is doing the talking in verse 61 – that Isaiah was hearing Him and quoting Him as an adult, hundreds of years before He appeared on this earth as a baby in Bethlehem.  My commentary said, “We know that the Lord Jesus is the speaker here because He quoted verses 1-2a in the synagogue at Nazareth (Luke 4:16-21) and added, ‘Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing …’ “

In Isaiah’s time, His words spoke of hope and freedom to those in captivity or about to be in captivity.  They spoke of restoration of the land in the years to come.  Farther along in time, they heralded His incarnation as a baby to Mary and Joseph.  But most importantly, He is also telling us about events during His second coming – particularly how God will redeem His chosen people, will draw them to Himself after lifting the veil of judicial blindness that will have existed for 2,000 years!  The reproach of the world will be removed and in fact the world will readily come to serve Israel in any and every capacity – hungry to be a part of what God will be doing with His chosen people!

To imagine Jesus straddling the millennia, speaking as One Who existed before time, before Creation, and Who will reign forever, equally at home in a manger, with His disciples in a fishing boat, or crowned at the right hand of God, is something our minds have to bend to accept.  There is no uncertainty about anything He says.  He knows and He narrates the future because He is outside of time and has witnessed and is witnessing it all at once.  That certainty on His part and His Father’s part is what drives our faith and helps us “know that I know that I know.”  Our future is in His hands.  He’d already seen it thousands of years ago and spoken of it.  How could we even consider doubting that what He says might fail?  No way!

Father, Your word encourages us about the future at a time when things are looking less and less certain.  Thank You for being my Rock and for providing us a Cleft to hide in – Your Son.  I’m so thankful that You’ve shown us the future.  You win!  And Satan doesn’t just fade out of the picture – He’s whupped, soundly thrashed, and OUT of here!

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford