Isaiah and John the Baptist prophesy of the Jesus

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn, to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified." Isaiah 61:1-3

When I study Isaiah's writings of the Savior’s mission, my testimony of Jesus Christ and appreciation of the New Testament is strengthened. In the above verse Isaiah describes some aspects of the Savior’s mission. Preach good tidings unto the meek. Bind up the brokenhearted. Proclaim liberty to the captives. Comfort all that mourn. Bring the lambs unto the shepherd. 

Jesus has fulfilled these prophecies in my life. Like most people I had fantasies of what my life would be like. All did not go as planned. Death, heart break, poor choices, and such led me to seek Him out. He healed my broken heart and broke the chains of captivity which Satan tricked me into accepting. He comforted me as I mourned my sweet Katie and my two wayward teens. He has helped me see things with an eye of optimism and accept that meekness is really strength. He led me from darkness as I learned to hear His whisperings.

Jesus quoted Isaiah 61:1-2 at the beginning of his ministry to declare that he was the Messiah.

"And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, the Spirit of the Lord upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears." Luke 4:16-21

John the Baptist Preaching in the Wilderness by Pieter Brueghel the Younger

John the Baptist prophesied of the Savior’s mission just before Jesus began his mortal ministry.

"As it is written in the book of the prophet Esaias; and these are the words, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, and make his paths straight. For behold, and lo, he shall come, as it is written in the book of the prophets, to take away the sins of the world, and to bring salvation unto the heathen nations, to gather together those who are lost, who are of the sheepfold of Israel; Yea, even the dispersed and afflicted; and also to prepare the way, and make possible the preaching of the gospel unto the Gentiles; and to be a light unto all who sit in darkness, unto the uttermost parts of the earth; to bring to pass the resurrection from the dead, and to ascend up on high, to dwell on the right hand of the Father, until the fullness of time, and the law and the testimony shall be sealed, and the keys of the kingdom shall be delivered up again unto the Father; to administer justice unto all; to come down in judgment upon all, and to convince all the ungodly of their ungodly deeds, which they have committed; and all this in the day that he shall come" Luke 3:4–11

John the Baptist fortold that the Savior’s mission would take away the sins of the world, bring salvation unto the heathen nations, gather together those who are lost, make possible the preaching of the gospel unto the Gentiles, be a light unto all who sit in darkness, bring to pass the resurrection from the dead, administer justice unto all, and convince all the ungodly of their ungodly deeds.

Jesus has fulfilled these prophecies again and again. Of course not everyone accepts His gifts, but those that do are happy, purposeful people. As I think about the things that Jesus has done for me, I'm filled with gratitude and joy. My life would be empty if Jesus had not sacrificed for me.