DAY 5 OF WEEK 3
“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,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19 ESV)
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,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19 ESV)
Who and what are these verses talking about?
Poor: destitute of wealth, power, influence, position, honor; needy and helpless.
Captives: literally being held captive, or captured, at spear point & unable to free themselves.
Blind: physical or mental blindness, the root word can also mean clouded by pride.
Oppressed: beaten, broken, and shattered into pieces.
It’s a little more in our comfort zone to consider this scripture as it applies to distant times or places. Places like Nepal, where an earthquake and tsunami have shattered thousands of lives. Places like sub-Saharan Africa where over 25 million people are infected with HIV/AIDs. Places like Turkey where less than 1% of the population know Jesus. It can get a little tougher when we see these terms apply to our own communities, to the physical poverty and spiritual darkness which exists within blocks of our homes. However, this concept is toughest when I realize this scripture is talking about me.
For me to understand the mission of the Messiah, I must recognize that Jesus’ mission is about me. This scripture is talking about you and me! Do you see yourself in this scripture? Apart from Jesus:
- I am needy and helpless with nothing to offer.
- I am held captive with no way of freeing myself
- I am blind, clouded by pride, without any clarity or direction
- I am beaten, broken, shattered, and incapable of putting myself back together.
When we celebrate the perfect Son of God being born in a lowly manger in Bethlehem and even more so being crucified on a Roman cross, do we recognize that this is because we desperately needed God to intervene in our lives?
It’s one thing to say He did it because we live in a needy, messed up, broken world, but it’s much more humbling to say He did it because I am a needy, messed up, broken person. Thank God for a savior!
Adapted From: http://shortdailydevotions.com
