Thoughts on Isaiah’s Good News by the Good Doctor

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,

Luke 4:18

“‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles,
that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”

Acts 13:47

Once again we find the Good Doctor at work in his story to aid us in our pursuit of a truer knowledge of the good news about our Savior. As we see above, Luke is sure to record two similar events which both lean heavily upon the great prophet Isaiah. Luke in various ways parallels the narratives of Luke 4 and Acts 13 so as to show the unity of the mission of the Messiah and his apostles, and that the message was one in the same.

The Good News of Light Dawning with the Messiah

The term “gospel” in the New Testament means good news in its most basic sense. This concept has specific aspects that are first introduced in the Old Testament.

Jesus’ quotation of Isaiah 61:1 in Luke 4:18 is of great importance. Isaiah spoke of God’s servant being anointed and sent to preach good news. Thus, we begin to understand the gospel by seeing the Isaianic background of “good news” as utilized by Jesus and Paul, and further looking at what else that portion of Isaiah says (40-66) about the good news.

Good News in Isaiah

Go on up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!”

Isaiah 40:9

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”

Isaiah 52:7

A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall bring good news, the praises of the LORD.

Isaiah 60:6

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound…

Isaiah 61:1

Isaiah connects the following to the goods news of what God promised to do:

• a) God coming near (40:9)
• b) God’s reign in which his people experience peace and happiness are truly, progressively, and eternally (52:7)
• c) The good news being spread and remembered by way of praising God for what he has done (60:6)
• d) God coming near to act personally in proclaiming and serving…as the gospel of Luke unfolds for us. (61:1)

Luke begins to show us the gospel as essentially being the good news that what God had promised to do he has begun to do in the coming of Jesus.

Light in Isaiah

The story of Jesus’ words (Luke 4:18) from Isaiah 61 that explain his ministry is paralleled and partnered with words given by Paul later in the Luke-Acts narrative. In Acts 13:47 Paul quotes from Isaiah 49:6 (see below) to explain his ministry. By using this verse from Isaiah that was spoken of regarding the Messiah, Paul aligns his ministry with Christ as service to him. Paul is on the same mission with the same message as Jesus.

Paul said,

“…the Lord has commanded us, saying, ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth’.”

This passage that was spoken by the Father to the Son as recorded in Isaiah 49:6, and now applied to the ministry of the apostles lends us another perspective on the good news.

Isaiah writes much about the “light” that was spoken of in Isaiah 49:6.

I am the LORD… I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.

Isaiah 42:6-7

He says: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

Isaiah 49:6

“Give attention to me, my people, and give ear to me, my nation; for a law will go out from me, and I will set my justice for a light to the peoples.

Isaiah 51:4

Isaiah writes of God’s good work as light spreading around the world with healing where sin ravaged and freeing where evil reigned.

Conclusion

Both the Messiah and the apostle Paul use key verses from the book of Isaiah to explain who they are and what they are doing as heralds of the good news. The good news of God’s work in Jesus is like the light of the sun rising on the horizon until it stands at full strength. God is working to free and heal sinners from the damages done by this evil age (Gal. 1:4). This is the reigning work of the Messiah-King who has come near (Isa. 40:9; 52:7) so that he may be praised by the nations (Isa. 60:6).

As we saw above, Luke is sure to record two similar events which both lean heavily upon the great prophet Isaiah. Luke in various ways parallels the narratives of Luke 4 and Acts 13 so as to show the unity of the mission of the Messiah and his apostles, and that the message was one in the same.