"The Year of Goodwill"

Isaiah writes:  "The spirit of the Sovereign Lord Jehovah is upon me, for the reason that Jehovah has anointed me to tell the good news to the meek ones. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to those taken captive and the wide opening of the eyes even to the prisoners."  (Isaiah 61:1)  Who is the one commissioned to tell good news?  Likely, in the first instance it is Isaiah, who is inspired by God to record good news for the captives in Babylon.  However, Jehovah pointed to the most important fulfillment when he applied Isaiah's words to himself.  (Luke 4:16-21)  Yes, Jesus was sent forth to tell good news to the meek, and to this end he was anointed with holy spirit at his baptism. -Matthew 3:16, 17.

 Moreover, Jesus taught his followers to be evangelizers, or preachers of the good news. At Pentecost 33 C.E., about 120 of these were anointed  with holy spirit and became spiritual sons of God. (Acts 2:1-4, 14-42; Romans 814-16)  They too were commissioned to tell the good news to the meek and brokenhearted.  Those 120 were the first of 144,000 to be anointed in this way.  The final ones of this group are still active on earth today.  Hence, for about 2,000 years, anointed followers of Jesus have been witnessing "about repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus." -Acts 20:21.

Isaiah's inspired message brought relief to repentant Jews in Babylon. In the days of Jesus and his disciples, it brought relief to Jews who were brokenhearted because of the wickedness in Israel and were languishing in captivity to the false religious traditions of first-century Judaism.  (Matthew 15:3-6)  Today millions ensnared by Christendom's pagan customs and God-dishonoring traditions are "sighing and groaning" because of the detestable things committed in that religious system.  (Ezekiel 9:4)  Those who respond to the good news are liberated from that pitiable state.  (Matthew 9:35-38) Their eyes of understanding are opened wide when they learn to worship Jehovah "with spirit and truth." - John 4:24.

Next time: Conclusion of "The Year of Goodwill"

From the Book Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind, Volume II, 2001