Scripture: Luke 4:17-18
and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor."
Observation
Jesus, in His home town, reads from the scroll of Isaiah. After He reads, He tells them that He is the one to whom the text refers. These verses are gospel because they show our savior. Jesus is the one anointed to proclaim good news to the poor, free the prisoners, give the sight to the blind and proclaim the Lord's favor.
Application:
At first glance, this text doesn't seem to apply to me. I am not really that poor, nor am I in prison, or blind. So what benefit is Jesus to me? Most of us fail to realize that these verses are about all of us. Without Jesus we are all afflicted with our own disobedience and sin. We are all poor because we are without righteousness. We are all prisoners to own sinful desires and selfishness. We are all blind to the person that God wants us to be in Christ. Jesus saves us from all of that. Salvation takes hold of us in our baptism but takes shape over a lifetime of walking with the Lord. Finally it is completed when we join Christ in heaven. This text reminds me that without Jesus I am poor, blind and imprisoned. With Jesus, I have God's favor.
Prayer:
Lord God, thank You for favoring me because of Jesus Christ even in my sin. Help me not to be lacking in righteousness, imprisoned by my sin or blind to Your grace. Amen.