READ: Isa. 61:1–11
And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” — Lk. 4:17–20
At thirty years of age, Jesus—the Christ—began His ministry. He was appointed by the Father and filled with the Holy Spirit. Thus He began to preach, first in Galilee, including His hometown Nazareth.
On the Sabbath He made Himself known in the synagogue as the promised Prince of Peace. He did this by reading the prophecy of Isa. 61. All eyes in the synagogue were fixed on Him. What would Jesus say about it? His sermon was astonishing.
Luke summarizes its core: “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Yes, what Isaiah had prophesied had become reality. “Here I stand. The Spirit is upon Me, and I come to heal and deliver everyone, just as it was foretold.”
It is now the proclaimed year of the Lord’s favor—the fulfillment of the jubilee year! What wonderful news for God’s people! Surely every reason to rejoice with exceeding joy. The Messiah has finally come! He now brings an end to all oppression and all the consequences of sin. He will make all things whole and bring salvation.
But the people of Nazareth reacted very differently. Yes, Jesus’ sermon appealed to them—they were momentarily impressed. But what does this Jesus say about Himself? Who is He to make such claims? Do we not know His parents?
They did not believe Him and expected something else. They longed for an earthly peace, deliverance from oppressors. But deliverance from sin meant little or nothing to them.
With what expectation of peace do we celebrate Christmas?
Sing: Ps. 149:1, 2