These two chapters begin with an introduction of the Servant (Messiah) and His mission. That the Servant of the Servant Songs is the same person as the Anointed One (Messiah) of chapter 11 is clear from what Isaiah wrote about Him.
"The Anointed One now appears for the second time. As in the second Servant Song (49:1-6), he speaks in his own person about himself and his God-given ministry."694
61:1 Isaiah spoke for the Messiah, as is clear from what he said about Him (cf. 49:1; 50:4). The Spirit of sovereign Yahweh would be upon Him (cf. 11:2; 48:16).695This indicates that He would possess supernatural wisdom and capacity (cf. Gen. 41:38; Exod. 31:3; Num. 11:17, 29) and that He would be able to bring justice and righteousness to the earth through His spoken word (cf. 11:2; 32:15-16; 42:1; 44:3; 48:16; 59:21). His possession of the Spirit is a result of God's anointing Him for His mission. He would need divine enablement by the Spirit to fulfill it (cf. 1 Sam. 10:1, 6-7; 16:3; 2 Sam. 23:1-7; Matt. 3:16-17). This Anointed One would do the Servant's work.
The mission of the Anointed One would be to announce good news to distressed people (cf. Ps. 25:16-21; Matt. 9:12-13; Mark 2:17; Luke 5:31-32). In other occurrences of this verb, it is the hope of Israel that is in view, specifically deliverance from Babylon and deliverance from sin (cf. 40:9; 41:27; 52:7; 60:6). What announcing good news to the afflicted means follows (through verse 3). First, it means He would mend the hearts of those so broken by life that they despair of having any hope. Second, it means the Anointed One would liberate those so enslaved that they could not break free (cf. 1:27; 11:3-5). Captives are in bondage to another person, and prisoners are bound to a place.
61:2 Third, proclaiming good news means He would bring, for God, a year of favor and a day of vengeance. God's favor would last much longer than His vengeance. A prolonged time of blessing is in view and a short time of punishment for oppressors.
When Jesus Christ read this passage in the Nazareth synagogue and claimed that He fulfilled it, He stopped reading after "the favorable year of Yahweh"and did not read "and the day of vengeance of our God"(Luke 4:18-19). He meant that He was the Anointed One of whom Isaiah spoke and that He had come to bring salvation. The day of salvation had begun (cf. 49:8; 2 Cor. 6:2). However, the day of vengeance would not begin until later, specifically at the end of the Tribulation when He will return (cf. 34:8; 35:4; 63:4; Dan. 7:21, 24-25; Mic. 5:15; Rev. 12:13-17; 19:15-20).696
Fourth, it means the Anointed One would comfort those who mourn because they believe their sins have doomed them (cf. ch. 12; 40:1-2; 49:13; Matt. 5:3-4). God would accept them in spite of their sin because of the Servant's work.
61:3 Fifth, proclaiming good news means He would give joy to the mourners among the Israelites in place of their sorrows. Sixth, it means they would become like large trees, flourishing in righteousness by demonstrating the saving and enabling grace of God and so glorifying Him. God's righteousness would make them strong and durable.
