Coffee With The Lord

This morning I read an Old Testament prophecy that was powerfully fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ! Here it is…

Isaiah’s prophetic words: “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified!” (Isaiah 61:1-3 ESV)

As I read these words this morning three words came to mind regarding Jesus and that prophecy…

DRAMA! Jesus, just a hometown boy from Nazareth, visits the synagogue there one Sabbath. He was invited to read and comment, as a visiting rabbi, on this prophetic passage. Picture it: He stood up, received the scroll of the prophet Isaiah, unrolled it, found the place in the scroll where Isaiah’s prophecy was located, and began to read the passage…

DECLARATION! Then the Bible says “He gave the scroll back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on Him and he said to them, ‘TODAY THIS SCRIPTURE HAS BEEN FULFILLED IN YOUR HEARING!’” (Luke 4:16-20)

Then… DELIVERY!

From that moment on, the life, ministry, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus fulfilled that prophecy in every detail!

But that’s not all… After Jesus ascended back to heaven, the Church – His redeemed people, that the New Testament refers to as “the Body of Christ” – are called upon (no, more than that – empowered and mandated) to continue and carry out His mission “in His name” until He returns!

Powerful eh? Simply powerful!! He did His part – He fulfilled the prophecy concerning Himself… We, His people, must do ours to bring it to final fulfillment!!! May we do it “in His name, and through the power of the Holy Spirit until He returns!!!