“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.”
Jesus has been baptized by John, tempted by the devil and now begins his ministry with this reading in his hometown synagogue. He ends the reading by saying that he is the fulfillment of this passage from the prophet Isaiah. I wonder if the Father gave this passage to him during those forty days of fasting? It is one of the truly majestic words of holy writ. It tells us that the poor will have good news and those who are in bondage and hurt will be free.
As we break down this mission statement of Christ we begin to understand the very heart of God for mankind. We start to understand how broken our world is and how much we need a Savior. Poverty is a stench in the nostrils of God. Spiritual bondage and blindness are affront to His presence. Yet the word says that because the Spirit of the Lord came darkness will no longer rule on earth. The Holy Spirit is upon you and upon me to do his will!
Come Holy Spirit! Fill us afresh and anew so that captives will be set free.
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