Isaiah 61:1-3 – Jesus Christ: The Consolation of Israel…

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Isaiah 61:1-3

(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; (2) To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; (3) To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
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The comfort of Israel, God’s covenant people, center on the coming of the Messiah to turn their fortunes around. Unfortunately, the Jews thought of it in a physical nationalistic way, but God was speaking about the Messiah sacrificing Himself for the remission of sins and taking them away. He was predicting good times, peace, and prosperity, all centered on the Person, the Messiah, whom we know as Jesus Christ. Luke 2:25 calls Jesus Christ the Consolation of Israel. God makes the connection for us there.

As the Israel of God, His covenant people, the elect can understand what Jesus says in Matthew 5:4, “for they shall be comforted,” more spiritually. It means that those blessed people who mourn shall receive the benefits of the Messiah’s work in paying for sin, bringing salvation, and then peace and prosperity to all His people.

But most of all, Christians need to understand the great comfort in their present relationship with Jesus Christ. Because of the combination of God’s calling and grace and their humble belief and repentance, the converted are now one with Him, part of His body. He is in His people, and they are in Him. He is with them all the time, only a cry or a prayer away.

Through His Spirit, which has been given to them, Christians understand and hope that though there is evil and horrible suffering because of the sins that are practiced in this world, truly good, peaceful, joyful times lie just ahead. God’s elect can take comfort in the fact that with the coming return of Jesus Christ, everything will change for the better. And eventually, as is said in Revelation 21, all things will be made new in the Kingdom of God.

— Richard T. Ritenbaugh

To learn more, see:
Those Who Mourn