Daily Devotions

40 Days and 40 Nights

40 Days and 40 Nights 
Day 
Day 8

"The LORD has anointed Me..."

Text: Isaiah 61:1b

A HUGE MESSIANIC TASK

The Lord God had entrusted a huge task for His Messiah-Servant to fulfil (Isaiah 61:1-3). His ministry may be categorized in the following way: –

1. The ministry of proclamation (preaching)

a) Preaching of good tidings (the gospel)
i) To the poor.
ii) To the captives (metaphorical).
iii) The acceptable year of the Lord.
b) Healing
i) Those who are broken-hearted.
ii) Those who were physically ill (as seen in the ministry of the Lord Jesus, though not mentioned specifically here).
c) Teaching/Counseling
i) Those who mourn.
ii) To give beauty for ashes.
iii) To give the oil of joy for mourning.
iv) The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.
d) Discipling (planting of trees)
i) They will become trees of righteousness.
ii) They are planted by the LORD.
iii) They will glorify God.

JESUS UNDERSTOOD HIS MINISTRY

This text reveals for us that the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ truly understood the ministry that His Father had entrusted to Him. This is well-evidenced in the ministry of the Lord Jesus (Matthew 4:23-25).

1. Preaching

2. Healing

3. Teaching

a) Making disciples;
b) Training them;
c) Equipping them for the day when they would become significant servants of God.