142 of 365 - Today!

​Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing. Luke 4:21

Jesus walked into a synagogue one Sabbath day. Something He regularly does. This particular synagogue is special. It’s in His hometown. It’s one He has been to countless times, listening to the religious leaders and traveling teachers preach from the Scriptures. He has returned from some time away. This time, He is the traveling teacher. The crowds settle in after singing a few hymns, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah is handed to Him. He takes it is His calloused hands from years of carpentry work. He slowly and carefully unrolls the scrolls. He knows exactly where He is going – Isaiah 61 – and He begins to read….

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”

There is nothing unusual at this point for the gathering families. He rolls the scroll back up and hands it to the attendant. As He sits down, a hush comes over the room, all eyes fixed on him. “How will He explain this?” they wait to hear.

A nine-word sermon: “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” Whoa...they weren't expecting that!

Jesus is essentially declaring Himself the Messiah; the long-awaited Anointed One; the Christ. He gives a peek into His earthly ministry, a taste of what the Messiah will ultimately accomplish, reversing and renewing the damage brought about by sin.
 
Good news to the poor. Liberty to the captives. Sight to the blind. Liberty to the oppressed. The year of the Lord’s favor.
 
Questions: What do you think Jesus means with the words from the scroll of Isaiah He says He will fulfill? What things was He sent to do?