INTRODUCTION

"Messiah," "Christ," and "Anointed" are three English words derived from Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, respectively, which mean the same thing. All three words allude to a ceremonial applying of oil, usually in connection with induction into important office.

When the Son of God, therefore, is referred to under the title "Messiah" or "Christ," the meaning is that He is God's anointed Prophet, Priest and King.

For convenience in study, out lesson may be outlined as follows:

1. The Two Comings, Isaiah 61:1-3. 
a. Anointed Savior, 1. 
b. Anointed Judge, 2. 
c. Anointed Victor, 3. 

2. Israel Restored, 4-9. 
a. Future balance, 4-7. 
b. Divine blessing. 8-9. 

3. Anointed Beauty, 10-11. 
a. Fitting figures, 10. 
b. Figures explained, 11. 

4. The First Coming, Luke 2:25-26. 
a. Awaited, 25. 
b. Fulfilled, 26. 

NOTES ON THE TEXT:

THE TWO COMINGS, Isaiah 61:1-3.

Ancient prophecies of the coming Messiah generally mingled in the prophetic vision varied aspects of the first and second comings of Christ. Even now, with some Old Testament prophecies clearly and definitely fulfi1led in New Testament history, there remains a great deal of argument among Bible interpreters how much Messianic prophecy was completely fulfilled in the first coming of Christ and how much awaits future fulfillment in connection with His second coming.

Anointed Savior, 1.

Jesus himself proclaimed that this Scripture was fulfilled in His own ministry [Luke 4:18-21]. The language is to be taken spiritually. "To preach good tidings" is to declare the gospel. The "meek" and "brokenhearted" and "captives" and "bound" are souls humbled before God, convicted and sorrowing over their sins, realizing themselves to be captives of Satan and bound in their prison of iniquity. Christ the Savior brought the message of salvation fom sin and its consequences.

This salvation, promised before the world began [Titus 1:2], was preached and paid for by the life and death of the Messiah at His first coming, but will not be fully and finally accomplished in the experience of His people until His second coming. It was at His first coming, however, that He was anointed to proclaim it; and so He could truthfully say, "This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears" [Luke 2:21].

Anointed Judge, 2.

Christ preached not only "the acceptable year of the Lord," but also "the day of vengeance of our God." Now is the accepted time, but the day of vengeance is still future. The same Messiah Who is now the Savior of sinners will in God's appointed day "judge the world in righteousness" [Acts 17:31].

Anointed Victor, 3.

Surely there are joys now for the children of God, but ultimate and complete joy and victory even over death will come to us with the triumphant return of our anointed King in the glory of His second coming.

ISRAEL RESTORED , 4-9.

Future balance, 4-7.

Restoration of Israel to the land of promise seems clearly to be prophesied here [4], with foreigners serving the chosen people in common labor [5]. So far we might recognize a partial fulfillment of prophecy even in unbelieving Israel, but the next verse [6] points to a time when the nation will be known as a nation of priests and ministers of God, eating the riches (perhaps the spiritual riches) of the Gentiles. "Double" in verse 7 could possibly mean a duplicate or corresponding portion.

Divine blessing, 8-9.

It is not because they deserve it, but because of God's own holy character, that He "will direct their work in truth" and "make an everlasting covenant with them" [8]. This future outpouring of God's blessings upon Israel as His chosen people [9] will be so manifest that "all that see them shall acknowledge them."

ANOINTING BEAUTY, 10-11.

Fitting figures, 10.

Perhaps giving his personal testimony or possibly personifying the nation of that future day, the prophet declares his joyfulness in God and testifies in figurative language of "garments of salvation," a "robe of righteousness," a bridegroom's "ornaments," and a bride's "jewels."

Figures explained, 11.

We are not left in the dark as to the meaning of these figures. True spiritua1 beauty lies in the divine character of the Messiah through Whom "righteousness and praise" will "spring forth before all the nations."

THE FIRST COMING,, Luke 2:25-26.

"When the Son of man cometh," asked Jesus, referring to His second coming, "shall he find faith on the earth?" [Luke 18:8].

Awaited, 25.

Not many, but some devoted souls were "waiting for the consolation of Israel" at His first coming. Simeon had this hope because "the Holy Ghost was upon him." If some of God's children retain the faith of Christ's return according to promise, it must be for the same reason.

Fulfilled, 26.

In the fullness of time Christ did come and was seen by those who were looking for Him. God always has kept His promises, and He always will. Even so, "unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation" [Hebrews 9:28].

CONCLUSION [Isaiah 65:17]

The creation under the curse of sin shall be replaced by a creation redeemed by our great Messiah. God's great Anointed, having subdued all things to Himself, will "also himself be subject" to the Father, "that God may be all in all" [I Corinthians 15:28).

[From Ashland Avenue Baptist newspaper, September 27, 1968, pp. 2-3. Scanned and formatted by Jim Duvall.]

---

More OT Lessons
Baptist History Homepage