The Bible Breakdown

Isaiah 61: Jesus Started a Riot

• Brandon Cannon • Episode 639

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Speaker 1:

Well, everybody, welcome back to the Bible Breakdown podcast with your host, pastor Brandon, today, isaiah, chapter 61, and today's title is Jesus Started a Riot. Jesus started a riot and what we're going to talk about is in the book of Luke, you can read about how Jesus goes to church they called it a synagogue back then and he reads today's text and at the end of reading today's text, they tried to throw him off a mountain. It doesn't get a lot of press, that particular passage, but Jesus started a riot in church over reading today's passage and we're going to talk about why that is. But before we do that, as always, while you're getting your Bibles open and ready for Isaiah 61, you know exactly what to do Make sure you like, share and subscribe to the YouTube channel, make sure you're telling everybody about it, make sure you're leaving us a five-star review on the podcast and, as always, make sure you are going to the Bible Breakdown Discussion on Facebook. I want to tell you about that real quick. We have got an amazing team of people who are writing devotions every day, and recently we have had new people join the team, and so I would love for you to today, even if you don't get on Facebook a whole lot. Get on it today and go and search Bible breakdown discussion and you will see a group. And this is what we would love for you to do. I want you to read the journal entry or, excuse me, devotion entry every day, and then we'd love for you to comment. Let us know how you're engaging with God's word. If you have a question, let us know If you disagree with something. We want to grow together. That's where that iron can sharpen iron, because, as I always say, the more we dig, the more we find.

Speaker 1:

Well, once again, if you have your Bible went up with me to Isaiah, chapter 61, we're getting ready to end our journey through the book of Isaiah and it's amazing, I mean, there's so much in this one book and today is one of those that really talks about a time when Jesus was almost thrown off a cliff because of him reading this. And here's the reason why Remember that the overall scope of Isaiah is God is our salvation and throughout Isaiah, that's what God is constantly challenging the nation of Israel to do. And because, you know, during the time there was social, political, religious unrest and everything's kind of just going haywire, and God keeps saying to the nation through Isaiah. He's just yelling out the only answer is to come back to Yahweh. We've got to come back to God and if we'll come back to God, he will save us from all of these things and He'll save us from Assyria, he'll save us from Babylon, all this, but we got to come back to God. And then, as he is doing that, isaiah is also looking ahead and he is prophesying about a future king that is coming, and when that future king comes, he's going to set everything right.

Speaker 1:

Well, throughout the nation of Israel's history, especially from Isaiah 4, but they were also talking about it even way back, when they were expecting this Messiah to come we now know it was Jesus, and one of the chapters that they looked at and said when the Messiah comes, this is how we will know is Isaiah, chapter 61. Now there are all these other ones that we've been talking about. We've been talking about how we're kind of going on this treasure hunt for truth about the coming king, and we've talked about that throughout the book of Isaiah. But this is the treasure chest. This is the one, as a matter of fact, when the disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus in the book of Matthew and said John wants to know, because at that point John's in prison. He said John wants to know are you the Messiah? Are we looking for another one? Jesus says to them go back and tell them the gospel is being preached to the poor, the blind or the sick are being healed. And all of this he was referring to Isaiah 61, because the people of God thought whoever the Messiah is, he's going to fulfill Isaiah 61. The reason why Jesus was almost thrown off a cliff is because he read Isaiah 61 and he was finished. He said today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing, now for us. You know, 2000 years later, not understanding Jewish culture and history, that's lost on us. But every time they read Isaiah 61, up until that day, they would say one day the Messiah will come and when he comes the scripture will be fulfilled. And so what Jesus was saying is all this in Isaiah 61 is about me. So let's read about Jesus in the Old Testament, in Isaiah, chapter 61. Okay, ready Now the New Living Translation, verse 1, says this that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed.

Speaker 1:

He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord's favor has come, and with it the day of God's anger against their enemies. To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for them, for his own glory. They will rebuild the ancient ruins, repairing cities destroyed long ago. They will revive them, though they have been deserted for many generations. Foreigners will be your servants. They will feed your flocks and plow your fields and tend your vineyards. They will be called priests, or you will be called priests of the Lord, ministers of our God. You will feed on the treasures of the nations and boast in their riches Instead of shame and dishonor. You will enjoy a double share of honor. You will possess a double portion of prosperity in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours, for I, the Lord, love justice. I hate robbery and wrongdoing. I will faithfully reward my people for their suffering and make an everlasting covenant with them. Their descendants will be recognized and honored among the nations. Everyone will realize that they are a people the Lord has blessed, and I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord, my God, for he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom dressed for his wedding, or a bride with her jewels. The Sovereign Lord will show His justice to the nations of the world. Everyone will praise him. His righteousness will be like a garden in early spring with plants springing up everywhere.

Speaker 1:

What an amazing chapter. And imagine Jesus. He is there in front of the people, and this is in front of people he's grown up around and they knew they had to. They had to know. There's something different about this Jesus. I don't know quite what it is. There's something different. And then one day he's going to get up and he's going to read Okay, let's do. It Turns out, okay. It looks like Isaiah 61 is the passage. Okay, here you go. And he says the spirit of the Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor, and he continues to go. Wanted me to bring good news to the poor, and he continues to go.

Speaker 1:

And what it was understood was that this was a prophecy of saying, when the Messiah comes, this is going to be his message, this is what he's going to do. And then Jesus fulfilled all of this, and you know what I love about that. I love this because it shows us this is what Jesus came to do for all of us. It shows us this is what Jesus came to do for all of us. He came to give good news to those of us who are poor, not just poor physically, but those who are in need of good news, those who, spiritually, were poor. We can't forgive ourselves. We can't pay the debt that we owe. He's bringing good news. He's comforting the brokenhearted. He's proclaiming freedom to those who are in prison. Comforting the brokenhearted. He's proclaiming freedom to those who are in prison. I mean, he's got all this great stuff. This is who Jesus is, and the wonderful thing is is that once, once we experience this healing, then we have the opportunity to go and share that with others. And so, as we get ready to end our time together, I want to ask you this question end our time together, I want to ask you this question.

Speaker 1:

Jesus was willing to proclaim the good news wherever he was, because he didn't consider it to be anything other than good news. And so he was willing to go into this place, where he knew he was going to create controversy. But the goal wasn't to create controversy. It was to bring healing and bring good news. So I want to ask you this question Are you willing to be put in an uncomfortable spot in order to share the good news with others? Are you willing to share the good news of Jesus with others?

Speaker 1:

Now, I know there's a wonderful passage, a passage, a quote, that says preach the gospel at all times and then, if necessary, use words, and I think that is very true. But there also comes a point when we need to use our words, and we have to be careful that we make sure that we share the good news with others in a season and situation when they'll receive it. And so one of the things I like to do is I like to say God, today, if you will open doors for me to share your good news with someone else, I will step through it. And so I just wait for open doors, and that may come when someone talks about how they're hurting and how they're struggling. Well, if they're talking about that, the good news is Jesus is able to help us and carry all of our heavy loads. You know someone who says you know, I really would like for you to pray with me because of something going on. Hey, I'd love to pray with you.

Speaker 1:

Let's talk about more than just what's going on. How's, how's your soul today? Just there's. There's a thousand ways, but we first have to put ourself in a posture to say I'm willing to share some of what I've received. And I love that idea because, once we have received the good news, we're then able to share it with others. And so here's my question Number one have you received the good news of Jesus?

Speaker 1:

In other words, he came to wash away our sin. He came to comfort the brokenhearted. He came to bring freedom to those of us who are in spiritual bondage. He came to bring comfort to those who mourn and declare that today is a day that you can be set free. Have you received that good news? If not, then I want to encourage you when you're finished listening or watching this podcast, take a few moments and just have a conversation with God and tell him about what's going on in your life and ask him to wash away your sin, to make you new, and then tell somebody about it On the other side. The next one is when is the last time you prayed and asked the Lord God, will you open a door today. Will you open an opportunity today and then give me the courage to step through it?

Speaker 1:

I'm going to tell you, there's nothing like being able to share the good news of Jesus with somebody else, because it truly is good news. And when you realize it is good news, then the greatest thing you can do for somebody is to tell them about what Jesus has done in your life. And it takes courage, because it's not just the idea of being concerned as to whether or not they're going to receive it, but there's also the spiritual warfare element, where you have a spiritual enemy called the devil, who does not want you to experience the joy of sharing and he also doesn't want them to experience the joy of receiving. And so when you feel that, that, that tug and that pull of I don't know if I want to realize that spiritual warfare and so you go above and beyond that and watch what God will do If you, number one, receive it for yourself and then, number two, share that good news with somebody today, let's pray together. Father, thank you right now for all the good things, all the challenges, everything in between, because we know that you're a good father and you're with us and you're for us. I'm thankful, lord, that everyone you've put in our life is an opportunity for us to share what you're doing in our lives with others.

Speaker 1:

But, god, sometimes it takes courage. Sometimes it's hard, there's spiritual warfare happening, so, but God, sometimes it takes courage. Sometimes it's hard, there's spiritual warfare happening, so I pray you will give us courage today. You'll give us the strength, you'll give us, Lord, the opportunities and then the willingness to step through it and to experience the joy of sharing your good news with others. Today, in Jesus' name, we pray amen and amen. God's word says in Isaiah, chapter 12, verse two God has come to save me. I will trust in him and not be afraid. The Lord is my strength and my song. He has given me victory. I love you. I'll see you tomorrow. For Isaiah, chapter 62.

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Brandon Cannon

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