The Year of the Lord

Luke 4:14–21 ESV

14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country. 15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. 16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. 17 And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, 18 “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, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 20 And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

The Year of the Lord

While looking for the “perfect illustration” to start today’s message, I found a commonality.

They were all about ‘gratitude’ and being thankful and rejoicing about all of the wonderful things God has done.

There were stories about how Pastors had started talking about the “year of the Lord” and people started making scrapbooks about all of the wonderful things that God had done for them, individually and as a church. I thought this was a wonderful idea but wondered “why does the ‘Year of the Lord’ seem to remind God’s people about what He’s already done?

Then I remembered a boy in front of the King saying, “God has delivered the lion and the bear into my hands, I know my God will deliver this uncircumcised Philistine into my hands!”

We seem to focus on what does God want me to do? When maybe, we’re asking the wrong question. Maybe the focus should lead us to “How awesome is our God for what He has already done!”

In this context, Christ fulfills the role of the ultimate Mediator through whom the Year of the Lord is realized.

Luke 4:14–21

In our Gospel reading today, Jesus declares His mission, encapsulates the essence of restoration and freedom, echoing the themes of Nehemiah and the unified function of the Church as directed by His teachings.

God has given us some very impressive manifestations to point us back to His magnificence!

His Creation

Psalm 19:1 ESV

1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

His Word

Psalm 19:7 ESV

7 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;

Everything He does is magnificent! - and perfect!

Psalm 19:12 ESV

12 Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults.

God has given us each other!

1 Corinthians 12:12 ESV

12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.

regarding spiritual gifts and church unity. Exploring translation nuances in these texts can also provide a deeper understanding of their implications in contemporary worship settings.

1. Prioritize Your Passion

We have a lot of passions.

Our family

Our jobs

Our possessions

Our hobbies

Maybe we live vicariously through our children and grandchildren’s passions.

But maybe this is for us…

Revelation 2:4 ESV

4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.

1. Prioritize Your Passion

So here we are…

How do we get it back?

God’s people had lost their passion for God in the time of Ezra and Nehemiah. So, here’s what they did…

Nehemiah 8:1–3 ESV

1 And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel. 2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. 3 And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.

1. Prioritize Your Passion

God’s people need to pay attention to God’s Word!

They had a longing for renewal after they had suffered in exile.

We can rekindle our passion for Scripture and prioritize time in God’s Word.

They did it through the communal aspect of worship and restoration.

Our next step is seemingly simple in word, but for some reason, difficult in practice.

2. Revere the Revealed Word

We all would say that God’s Word is Holy. but do we say as David:

Psalm 119:11 KJV 1900

11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, That I might not sin against thee.

God’s people had to come to that point

Nehemiah 8:5–6 ESV

5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. 6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.

2. Revere the Revealed Word

This passage presents the reverence and worship that arises from encountering God's Word.

When Ezra opens the book, all the people stand in reverence, and worship follows.

Let usEncourage respond to Scripture with awe and worship.

Allow this to foster an attitude of reverence in our daily lives and in the church community.

God's Word should not only be read but also revered and celebrated.

3. Rejoice in Renewed Understanding

But there comes in interesting conundrum. Many people know about God and His Word, but they haven’t allowed God to come into their hearts and change their understanding through relationship.

There is joy found in understanding and applying Scripture, as shown in the Levites helping the people understand, leading to rejoicing. We should actively engage diligently in Bible study, to appreciate the joy that understanding brings, and apply it in their lives. Joy, even in difficult times, is birthed from God's truth, and this is a call for renewal in joy and strength through Scripture. God’s people did it as an example for us.

Nehemiah 8:8–10 ESV

8 They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading. 9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. 10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

3. Rejoice in Renewed Understanding

Ok, so we read and understand God’s Word. What’s next?

4. Recognize the Role in Unity

Our New Testament reading shed some light there. Let’s look at verse 12 of I Corinthians 12.

1 Corinthians 12:12 ESV

12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.

4. Recognize the Role in Unity

WE NEED EACH OTHER!

We all have a part to play

No one is more important or less important than the next

We need to celebrate the tapestry of God’s magnificence manifested in each other

1 Corinthians 12:14–18 ESV

14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.

So, we love God’s Word and Each other then let us…

5. Reveal the Restorative Christ

Our Gospel reading today showed us Jesus right after He came from the wilderness being tempted by the Devil. It says something interesting that a lot of Christians have lost sight of:

Luke 4:16 ESV

16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read.

I want to highlight a bit of this and show you something I had read many times before, but seemed to overlook.

Luke 4:16 ESV

… And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day…

Going to God’s house, going to Church was His custom. It was a regular part of His life. Let me say it differently. It was a priority in His life.

He wasn’t a lord and king who said do as I say, not as I do. He demonstrated that we should prioritize assembling in God’s House! It was AND IS STILL important!

5. Reveal the Restorative Christ

It was while He and the people are assembled that if you aren’t there or aren’t paying attention, you will miss something important.

They hand Him a scroll of Isaiah containing what we have in our Bibles as Isaiah 61

He reads Isaiah 61:1-2

Isaiah 61:1–2 ESV

1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn;

Just so you can see it, here it is in Luke again…

Luke 4:18–19 ESV

18 “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, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Then He says this:

Luke 4:21 ESV

21 … “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

Luke 4:21 exemplifies the fulfillment of the Year of the Lord. Jesus identifies Himself as the fulfillment of restoration, freedom, and good news.

Jesus as central to our restoration and empowerment

Proclaim freedom and hope to those around you.

This was Christ’s mission and this is our call to be agents of restoration in our communities.

So in summary:

1. Prioritize Your Passion 2. Revere the Revealed Word 3. Rejoice in Renewed Understanding 4. Recognize the Role in Unity5. Reveal the Restorative Christ

Let’s find our first love through Study of God’s Word. Let us have understanding of what God has already done throughout history demonstrating HIS Power and Glory. Allow yourself to walk in unity with God and His people and finally be a participant in the restorative work of Jesus Christ!