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Answer
In Isaiah 61:1, the prophet proclaimed the good news of God’s restoration for the people of Israel: “The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners” «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; », (Isaiah 61:1).
Seven centuries later, Jesus Christ began His public ministry in the synagogue of Nazareth by unrolling the scroll of Isaiah and applying this passage to Himself (Luke 4:18-21). “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing,” Jesus concluded, identifying Himself as the anointed Servant-King who would announce “the good news” of salvation and bind up the brokenhearted.
The “brokenhearted” are individuals who are weakened, crushed, or destroyed in spirit. The term describes those who feel spiritually bankrupt, needy, and helpless. They long for the Lord’s help, comfort, and salvation. The verb translated as “bind up” in the original language means “to inspire with confidence, give hope and courage to, to encourage, to bandage, to dress by covering, wrapping, or binding.”
Both in Isaiah 61:1 and Luke 4:18, the focus of the message of good news is spiritual restoration and healing. Just as a physician would “bind up” or bandage a wounded arm, the Messiah would bandage a wounded spirit. Brokenhearted individuals—the spiritually ruined—are in the right condition to be met and saved by God «The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit…».It: A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” (Psalm 51:17). David says in Psalm 34:18, “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Jesus Christ brought the good news of salvation to the poor, the needy, and the spiritually barren, that is, all who were corrupted by sin. Before salvation, sin separated us from God (Ephesians 2:1-3). Without Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, we were all destined for death (Romans 6:23; Romans 7:5). But Jesus came to set us free from the power of death and the fear of death (Romans 8:1-2; Hebrews 2:14-15). The corruption of sin that had left us spiritually crushed was overcome by the work of Christ on Calvary, “who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.” (Romans 4:25).
Christ’s redeeming sacrifice opens the way for us to experience His glorious resurrection life, “Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him.” (Romans 6:8). Accepting His salvation is our greatest spiritual need, and that is why it is such good news: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”Bible/King James Version/1 Peter 1:3″>(1 Peter 1:3). We were all broken-hearted, helpless, and separated from God before we received Christ’s gift of salvation. But now we have peace with God (Romans 5:1-2). Now we have fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11; Isaiah 35:10; Acts 13:52; John 15:11).
How does Jesus bind up the broken-hearted? The Bible explains, “He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds, you are healed” «who his own self bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. », (1 Peter 2:24, NLT).
Christ understands what it means to be broken-hearted: “He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces, he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds, we are healed” (Isaiah 53:3-5).
Some of us are broken-hearted because we’ve fallen back into sin. Maybe we’ve regressed in our Christian walk, we’ve compromised our stand, or we’ve allowed our hearts to grow cold and indifferent. The solution is to return to the Lord and ask for His forgiveness (Hosea 14:1-2). “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9).
In Psalm 51, David sought the Lord’s forgiveness after he had sinned with Bathsheba. He felt broken, crushed, unclean, and in need of renewal from within. He longed for God to purge him thoroughly: “Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me—now let me rejoice. Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you” (Psalm 51:7-12;NLT).
David understood that no earthly sacrifice could atone for his sin: “You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God” (Psalm 51:16-17;NLT).
Only God’s unfailing love and compassion could save David. The only thing he had to offer God was a broken, humble heart—but that was enough. God will not reject us when we come to him in brokenhearted repentance.
Jesus Christ knows our troubles, temptations, and sorrows “For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15). He experienced them throughout his life and his death on the cross. Yesterday, today, and forever, our brokenhearted Savior is the healer.
He is the restorer of spiritually bankrupt sinners. He addresses the deepest needs of shattered individuals—He forgives their sins (John 3:16;1 John 1:9;Colossians 1:14); He offers them hope, courage, and abundant, everlasting life (John 10:10;John 17:3;Romans 8:23-24;15:13;1 John 2:25). “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” «He healeth the broken in heart, And bindeth up their wounds. », (Psalm 147:3).
