The Mission of the Messiah

Jesus came to proclaim the Gospel and deliver those in captivity.

Declare the Good News

Jesus read from Isaiah 61. A prophecy of the coming Messianic reign. There is a two part fulfillment: Jesus read only through the fulfillment of His first advent. It was the fulfillment of the year of Jubilee declared in Leviticus 25.

The Good News in view here is the Kingdom of God. The Son of God has come to reclaim what rightfully belongs to Him.

It involves the teaching of Christ that transforms us. Luke 4:32 “and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word possessed authority.”

Deliver the Captives

Jesus came to deliver those taken captive as prisoner of war!

He came to deliver from Satan’s destruction.

The demons were cast out of those that they had oppressed. (verses 31-37 and 40-41).

Jesus has released the captives from Satan’s grasp.

2 Timothy 2:24–26 “And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.”

Ephesians 4:8–10 “Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)”

He came to deliver from Sin’s dominion.

His doctrine of grace has delivered us from the power of sin. We are changed from the inside out by the Gospel!

Romans 6:14–17 “For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed,”

He came to deliver from the Sickness of death.

Jesus demonstrated his power over death and sickness by healing the sick. (verses 38-40)

There is coming a day of no more sickness! Rev. 21:4

Revelation 21:4 ESV

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

The Decision of the People

His own hometown rejected His offer of deliverance. They rejected the Lord of life!

Salvation and grace is extended to those who would believe, even to the gentiles.

Others begged him to stay and found deliverance.

What will you do with Jesus?

Christ came to deliver you from sins