What Is He Doing?

For the past few weeks, the verse that has been my prayer is Isaiah 43:19

Isaiah 43:19 NRSV

I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

I heard God speak these words to me as I prayed for our next direction. God said, “See, I am doing a new thing?” These words were spoken to the Israelites in Babylon during their exile when they wondered just how much longer they would live oppressed in someone else’s land. Most of Isaiah is a prophetic promise for the coming redemption for all of God’s people. This redemption would not come easily, all of the world would continue to fight against it. But God was making a way for His people to see blessings abounding as long as they followed in His path of righteousness. The righteousness ones would see their redemption, they would experience a new birth and a new time with greater healing and power to stand against evil.

Pray and Read Luke 4:16-30

Luke 4:16–30 NRSV

When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?” He said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘Doctor, cure yourself!’ And you will say, ‘Do here also in your hometown the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.’ ” And he said, “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s hometown. But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.” When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way.

Jesus arrives back at home in Nazareth. It is the day of the Sabbath, so like a good Jew, he goes to synagogue. Sure, he is tired and has a lot to do, but He is dedicated to honoring God and following the rules set forth by His Father.

This synagogue is not like the big temple in Jerusalem, it is what we would call a small church style. Things are more laid back, and lead mostly by the good people in the area. They meet to pray, read the scriptures, comment on its meaning, and give alms to the poor. Nazareth is a small town where everyone knows everyone.

The main point in this passage is truly one that many of you have heard. It is obvious that Jesus is reading aloud a prophecy about Himself. So, He states what the passage means clearly and openly. Depending on which account from which Gospel you are reading, the pharisees and others present get mad immediately and call Him a heretic and some accounts say that people where amazed that a carpenter’s son could speak so well and deeply about a prophetic word from Isaiah. The passage that Jesus read is what we has as Isaiah 61:1-2

Isaiah 61:1–2 NRSV

The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn;

There are many passages in Isaiah that prophecy the coming Messiah. We read Isaiah 9 during Advent and Isaiah 53 during Lent. Here in this passage and in 43 we have the Messiah’s, or Suffering Servant as Isaiah calls Him, direct dialogue. This is as though Jesus communicated these words directly to Isaiah Himself.

Now if you were to read all of Isaiah chapter 61, you would read that Jesus is not just talking about what He will do, but what will happen for His people.

So now, let us get to the depth of this passage shall we? Jesus stops mid-sentence as though it dawns on Him those words that were spoken once before and proclaims, “Wow, so here it is and here am I.” The time has come when the people of Christ will be blessed and will be a blessing.

Yes, God wants to bless His people. That is so nice to hear that God wants to bless you. But to say that is just words spoken in a future tense, when Jesus said “Today the scripture is fulfilled.” Today, people will be healed, the blind will see and the oppressed are freed!

Jesus reminds them that the prophets of old never got the respect they truly deserved. Jesus also reminds them that He is greater then even the greatest prophet, like Elijah or Elisha. They could only heal one at a time even though there were more who had need. When it dawns on them that He is claiming the role of the Suffering Servant, they get angry. They even discredit the idea that He is a great prophet.

Now, the Healer of all people is present.This is our Savior and redeemer. But not just for me or you, but for all of humanity. Even now in this day and age, this is who Jesus is for those who need Him. So let us go over what is actually declared in this text from Isaiah.

The Good News to the poor is not just a declaration against poverty. Yes, we are to help the poor and give all we can. However, Jesus is referring to the poor in spirit. That “Good News” is that their souls will be uplifted and filled with joy and peace. The proclamation of release to the captives isn’t a literal release either, although yes we are to help those who are oppressed. This proclamation is for those who are slaves to sin, or oppressed by this world. God has made a way, through Christ for us to be released from sin. Guess what, although Christ did heal the blind and the lame, the next statement is also spiritual in nature. Those who can not see eternity or experience God in this life, can now have access to God, we will see God.

This is the Good New of Jesus Christ. He came and that brought favor from God, the year of Jubilee! All debts are paid and forgiven. We are free for eternity with our Creator. We do not have to be held down in brokenness any longer. Of course then, they did not understand. The time of the Messiah as proclaimed all through Isaiah had not been fully completed when Jesus first read the scrolls in Nazareth. But now, it has! All scripture has been fulfilled. We are released from our bonds of sin, we are filled with His Spirit, we can see and experience our God. Have you been released? Are you filled with the Holy Spirit? Can you see the works of God in our day and age? You should! If not, you need to now. If you can and this is true for you, then you need to proclaim Jubilee for those who need to know where freedom can be found. Jesus has saved us and now we are to proclaim that we have favor from the Lord! We should proclaim that this favor is a gift for all who come to Jesus. Everyone can be set free from sin and guilt. Everyone can be spiritually full. Everyone can see life for eternity. This is Good News and it needs to be proclaimed! Before we do anything else, we need to proclaim Jesus! Jesus is still healing and redeeming today!

In the Name of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.