Isaiah 61:1 tells of the binding up of the brokenhearted and freedom for the captives. "The spirit of the sovereign Lord is on me." Who is me? I always thought that it might be the Messiah, but I guess that it could be anyone. What do you think? -- Frank Herrington

It is vital that we put questions to the text when we read the Bible. In this passage, the Spirit is on the Messiah, the anointed one of God. This passage is even quoted in the New Testament as applying to Jesus--not to anyone else! I think it is important that we not try to apply scriptures to ourselves unless there is a very good (biblical) reason to do so.

This is not to say that we do not share in the ministry of the Messiah. After all, as someone has said, down here on the earth we are Christ's hands and feet, delivering the good news and ministering to the needy and the lost. But that hardly means we are inspired--that the Spirit rests on us at it did on Jesus!

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