True Messiah

Luke 4:16-21 Jesus went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. 17 The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, 21 and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
 
JESUS is preaching and teaching. Returning to his hometown, he faithfully went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day. Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath, demonstrated to us the right behavior for the Sabbath day. Go to an assembly of God’s people to hear the Word of God.
    Jesus read what we know today as Isaiah 61:1-2a. Eight hundred years prior to this moment, the Spirit had inspired Isaiah to speak and to write God’s promise of a benevolent Messiah to come to Israel.
    The Jews viewed the Isaiah promise expecting God to send a David-like Messiah to free them from physical oppression and bondage. He would reign on Israel’s throne forever.
    When Jesus said, “Today, this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” chills may have run down the spine of each faithful Jew. “Is it now time for the promised Messiah? Is he this man Jesus from our own hometown?”
    “Yes,” we can faithfully answer, “this man Jesus is the Lord’s promise fulfilled!” But our “Yes.” is not based on the Jews’ expectation. We know Jesus was the kind of Messiah the Jews did not expect. Sadly, and soon, they would find the reality of God’s favor of Jesus’ true teaching to be unfavorable to their way of life. They did not accept that God’s favor would require them to confront their sin, their man-made laws and their faith-stifling religious traditions. As a result, the chill on their collective spine would become a deadly cold rage on their hearts.
    Do you see the favor of God’s justice, mercy, grace and salvation as God’s gracious mercy for your life? Know Jesus is the true Messiah, who has come to open your eyes to your sin and set you free from Satan’s oppression.
   
Prayer: O Lord, may your Scripture be fulfilled in my life each day. In Jesus’ name. Amen.