Feb 10, 2011 The Beauty of Our Savior in His Own Words
Originally posted on December 21, 2005
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.”
Luke 4:18-19
The Beauty Of Our Savior In His Own Words
This December we have seen the beauty of Jesus in the prophecies of the early chapters of Luke. There was Simeon in the temple. He saw the baby Jesus, took Him in his arms, and sang a song of salvation. In Jesus, Simeon saw and proclaimed the light of revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of Israel (Luke 2:32).
Then there was John at the Jordon. He saw the man Jesus, took Him in his arms, and baptized Him. In Jesus, John saw and proclaimed the One who was mightier than he, and who would baptize us in the Holy Spirit and fire (Luke 3:16).
The next prophecy Luke records concerning Jesus is the one made by Jesus Himself. Like Simeon and John, Jesus looked to Isaiah for His prophecy. There was Jesus in the synagogue. He took the book of the prophet Isaiah in His arms and read to the congregation. In Isaiah, Jesus saw Himself and proclaimed His reason for coming (Luke 4:18-19).
The beauty of Jesus is seen in the final words of the prophecy. Jesus had come to proclaim “the favorable year of the Lord.” This phrase is a reference to the year of Jubilee mentioned in Leviticus 25. The Lord gave instructions that every fiftieth year was to be the year of release. If a person was in debt and had sold himself to another to pay off the debt, he was released from servitude and debt at the year of Jubilee. Each person was to return to his own property and to his own family. The favor of the Lord had released him.
Jesus used Isaiah to refer to Himself as the Preacher of good news; God’s favor is on all mankind. The year of release is here. Jesus Himself is the Releaser. He has come to the poor, the captives, the sick and the oppressed to say that in Him God is smiling on them. God is here in Jesus to set people free from all that binds them and keeps them from knowing His grace, glory and love.
For Jesus, the prophecy of God’s favor toward people came with a price for Him to pay. Release for captives and forgiveness for sinners is not free. As Jesus proclaimed the Jubilee year for us, He knew there was a bitter cup of crucifixion for Himself. There He paid our debts. There He bore sins. There on the cross He took the wrath of God for our transgressions and declared, “it is finished.”
Now, all who call upon the name of the Lord are saved. All who turn to Him for salvation are released from sin’s condemnation and oppression. All who trust Him enter the year of Jubilee where the favorable smile of God is forever enjoyed.
Alleluia, what a beautiful Savior!
Merry Christmas,
Pastor Scott