Abiding in EasterSample

ABIDING IN EASTER - LENT DEVOTIONAL by BRYAN CRAIG

DAY 2

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. 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 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.”

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. And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

Luke 4:16-21 ESV

This 30-year-old man, who had been living in utter obscurity his whole life, comes on the scene and begins making fantastic claims about Himself. The religious leaders had no idea how to take this man. Yet, he had a way about him. He spoke with authority and passion. Their scriptures had told them a Messiah, a King was coming in the line of David, but they never pictured him as a simple carpenter from Nazareth.

This carpenter claimed to be anointed as a king would be, proclaiming freedom for those who had been held captive and oppressed. The leaders might have thought he was referring to the poor, but He was talking about ALL people who are ensnared by the things of this broken world. For all who would receive Him, it truly would be the moment of the Lord’s favor.

APPLICATION:

When you think of Jesus, do you think of “religion” or “rules” or “out of touch”? Do you recoil at His words? Or does Jesus and His offer of freedom resonate with your heart’s desire today?