Sweet Restoration

Pre-sermon reading: Is 61:1-3

Prayer

The Bible doesn’t tell us much about Jesus’ life between His birth and when He began His public ministry. We know that when Jesus was still very young, an angel warned Joseph to take Jesus and Mary and flee to Egypt because Herod would be searching for Jesus in order to kill Him. Herod gave orders to kill all the boys in the area of Bethlehem who were two years old and under.

So Joseph took Mary and Jesus to Egypt, where they stayed until King Herod died. They then went and settled in Nazareth in Galilee

The only other detail we know about Jesus’ early life was when His parents accidentally left Him in Jerusalem after a Passover Feast. (Luke 2:41-50)

Fast-forward 18 years — Jesus is now 30 years old. At this same time, God was using John the Baptist…a prophet, the son of Elizabeth and a cousin to Jesus...in a powerful way —

Matthew 3:1–3 NIV

In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’ ”

John told the crowds that another is coming after — “…more powerful than I. I am not worthy to remove his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire...”

One day Jesus came to John at the Jordan. He came to be baptized. John said “I need to be baptized by you…this is backwards”. But Jesus told John that this must be done to fulfill all righteousness, so John agreed and baptized Jesus

Matthew 3:16–17 NIV

As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

This was the culmination of 30 years in Jesus’ life. Now the time was at hand. But Jesus had just one more thing to do before launching His ministry. What was that one thing?

Immediately after His baptism Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. (Mt. 4:1-11)

turn these stones into bread — “It is written”

throw yourself down from the top of the temple - the good book says God will protect you from harm --- “It is written — do not test the Lord your God”

I will give you all the kingdoms of the world…just bow to me — “It is written — worship the Lord your God , and serve Him only”

Where am I going with this today? I just wanted to set the stage for what happens next. Everything Jesus did was in preparation to bring hope and life to a hopeless and dark world. He made every move and spoke every word, motivated by His love for the world.

Jesus’ love motivated Him to bring full restoration to any and all that call upon Him

For the people who had ears to hear, Jesus clearly communicated His purpose

Jesus Communicated the Message of Restoration

Exposition:

Following Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness, He returned to Galilee “in the power of the Spirit, and news about Him spread throughout the entire vicinity. He was teaching in their synagogues, being praised by everyone

Luke 4:16–21 NIV

He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 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.” Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Anointed — “To pour or smear (oil) on a person in an act of consecration for holy service”

The tense of this verse is past tense — the voice is active, which means it is both past tense and also continuing on. It hasn’t stopped — it wasn’t for a set time frame.

...Jesus was anointed to proclaim truth and then to make that truth come to life through His own words and actions

Anointed to proclaim good news to the poor

What is the good news?

The coming of Messiah - the chosen one that would set them free from their oppressors…take them out of captivity, in essence

Who are the poor?

Not necessarily poor in the traditional understanding

Poor in circumstances - poor in spirit - humble recognition of their own need.

Anointed to proclaim freedom for prisoners

Like the year of Jubilee - every debt forgiven - slaves set free - land restored - life given back to them - a brand new start

When a person comes to know Jesus…they are given a spiritual jubilee...

Anointed to proclaim sight for the blind

Both literal and spiritual

Spiritual sight is the most important sight

Anointed to proclaim freedom for the oppressed

Under the thumb of a wicked oppressor - like the Egyptian slavery of their ancestors

The oppressed today: people that are abused and tossed out like trash — people that suffer every day because of situations out of their control. Especially children and also people that suffer oppression because of their own choices — now under the thumb of addiction and self-deception.

Oppressed people cannot see a way out — they have no room to breathe or to see light at the end of the tunnel. Everything is obscured and blocked by their oppression.

Jesus is anointed and has come to throw off the chains that bind and to remove the blinders that block the truth. He is the way the truth and the life.

Transitional: Jesus’ love motivated Him to bring full restoration to any and all that call upon Him — however, this opportunity won’t last forever

Jesus Communicated a Window of Opportunity

Exposition

A window....

…to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor (Luke 4:19)

…these words described the deliverance of Israel from Babylonian exile as a year of Jubilee — when all debts were cancelled, all slaves freed, and all property returned to original owners (Lv 25)

A warning

…to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of our God’s vengeance (Is 61:2a)

The window is still open

The YEAR of the Lord’s favor

When Jesus was reading from Isaiah, he stopped after reading the words, “to proclaim the year of the Lords favor,”

He stopped short…in the middle of the sentence. He closed the book and sat down

Jesus’ anointing to proclaim the good news, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, and release from darkness for the prisoners is at work in the world…now…today.

Hebrews 3:15 NIV

As has just been said: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.”

…the Israelites hardened their hearts…and God closed the window to the Promised Land

One day the window will close

The DAY of our God’s vengeance

When it closes, it will be quick and it won’t open again

Today…is the most important day because tomorrow might not come in this life.

Jesus could easily return

Any of us could leave this life unexpectedly

Illustration: Think about it this way. When a rocket is set to launch into space, it can’t be launched any time they feel like it — only when there is a launch window. The scientists calculate distance, orbits, weather, etc. to come up with the perfect window for launch. If they miss that window, they have to wait for the next opportunity. The same goes for coming back to earth from space. What if the ship had mechanical issues and was running out of oxygen and they only had once chance to make it home before running out of air? That window means life or death. We are in a time right now where the window to restoration and hope is wide open, but when it closes, it won’t open again.

Challenge

When Jesus showed up and lived out His ordained purpose…He opened wide a window of opportunity. This window will not remain open forever —

Jesus’ love motivated Him to bring full restoration to any and all that call upon Him

Jesus’ message is a message of restoration

A message of freedom

A message of hope

A message of new life today, tomorrow, and for eternity

Will you receive His offer today?

The first generation of Israelites rebelled and missed their opportunity

Will you step out and spread His Good News today?

What motivates you to share the love of Jesus with others?

His love will motivate you - spend time with Him - pray, seek, worship, listen

His love will flood your heart and motivate you to love others with His love