Every since Adam and Eve rebelled, God has seen His fair share of heartaches and heartbreaks. God has seen His people oppressed by the Egyptians and later by the Babylonians. His people and many of His chosen leaders continually turned their backs on Him. Half of the kings of Judah and Isreal led the Israelites away from God and into destructive behaviors.
I can picture God with a heavy heart sitting Jesus down, like a father would a son getting ready to have a very serious conversation, and telling His beloved son, "This rebellion has gone on far too long. I have continually intervened on their behalf and they continue to rebel against Me....But I will never give op on My people. It is time, my Son, to truly set people free." I can picture Jesus giving His Father a hug, the type of embrace you would give someone that is getting ready to go on a long journey, and Jesus saying, with nervousness in His throat but confidence in His heart, "Let's do it!"
We read in Luke 4:16-22 that Jesus shows up at the local synagogue in Nazereth - the scroll of the prophet Isaiah is handed to Him and Jesus reads Isaiah 61:1;
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for He has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come." Then He said, "The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!" What could this mean?
Bring Good News to the poor: Many times when we think of this verse we think of the poor financially, but I always look at this verse differently thinking of the poor in spirit, spiritually bankrupt, having a void. So I decided to see what the word poor meant and it means, people in a vulnerable position, persecuted and oppressed. That is what all of us are without Jesus.
Captives released: Common sense tells us that Jesus did not just come for those in prison but for those in bondage in their addictions, destructive behaviors, or even bad religious habits. Anything that keeps you from God, He came to set you free from it.
Blind: Obviously we are not all physically blind. Many of us will see perfectly our whole lives, but Jesus says He wants us all to come out of our darkness and into the light.
Oppressed: Those who carry heavy burdens, those being abused, not just physically but emotionally, verbally, spiritually - by the world and its influences. Physical and mental distress.
Lord's favor: God's goodness even though we don't deserve it.
These verses apply to all of us. We hear all the time "Jesus came to die for you." But this Christmas remember...He was also BORN for you!
Check out this video...this song says it better than anything I have ever heard!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUjfN7cpv3o
Merry Christmas!!
Be blessed,
Steve
We read in Luke 4:16-22 that Jesus shows up at the local synagogue in Nazereth - the scroll of the prophet Isaiah is handed to Him and Jesus reads Isaiah 61:1;
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for He has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come." Then He said, "The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!" What could this mean?
Bring Good News to the poor: Many times when we think of this verse we think of the poor financially, but I always look at this verse differently thinking of the poor in spirit, spiritually bankrupt, having a void. So I decided to see what the word poor meant and it means, people in a vulnerable position, persecuted and oppressed. That is what all of us are without Jesus.
Captives released: Common sense tells us that Jesus did not just come for those in prison but for those in bondage in their addictions, destructive behaviors, or even bad religious habits. Anything that keeps you from God, He came to set you free from it.
Blind: Obviously we are not all physically blind. Many of us will see perfectly our whole lives, but Jesus says He wants us all to come out of our darkness and into the light.
Oppressed: Those who carry heavy burdens, those being abused, not just physically but emotionally, verbally, spiritually - by the world and its influences. Physical and mental distress.
Lord's favor: God's goodness even though we don't deserve it.
These verses apply to all of us. We hear all the time "Jesus came to die for you." But this Christmas remember...He was also BORN for you!
Check out this video...this song says it better than anything I have ever heard!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUjfN7cpv3o
Merry Christmas!!
Be blessed,
Steve
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