Healing And Freedom

Prelude

What did Jesus bring? What about the poor, the brokenhearted, the blind, and the oppressed? Is there a year of release for those who suffer? Let’s examine Jesus' words in Luke 4:14-21.

Power of the Spirit

“Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region.” (Luke 4:14 NKJV)

What is this power? Other passages speak of power to declare (Micah 3:8), to heal (Matthew 10:1), power over unclean spirits (Mark 6:7), authority (Luke 4:36), mighty signs and wonders (Romans 15:19), demonstrated in speech and preaching (1 Corinthians 2:4).

Public Reading of Scripture

“And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.” (Luke 4:15-16 NKJV)

The public reading of scripture is still a practice in many churches today.

Anointed

“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.’ Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, ‘Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.’ ” (Luke 4:17-21 NKJV)

Jesus’ anointing was to do something worthwhile as follows.

To preach the gospel to the poor

The Greek word is literally “to evangelize the poor” or announce good news to the destitute. The poor are those who find no comfort in this world. Poverty can be material (one who crouches and cowers, deeply destitute, completely lacking material needs) or spiritual (one who recognizes their abject spiritual poverty, humble). (Matthew 5:3; 11:28)

To heal the brokenhearted

This means to cure or make whole those whose hearts are crushed or broken into pieces, who suffer from extreme sorrow.

To proclaim liberty to the captives

Just the announcement of freedom for captives would bring joy to our hearts. It would be like a pardon from a long prison sentence or from the death penalty, or deliverance from bondage for a slave. Literally, this is those taken captive at the point of a spear, a prisoner of war. It would remind Israel of past national captivity in Egypt and Babylon, symbolic of all humanity's captivity to self-destructive sin and corruption.

Recovery of sight to the blind

Physical blindness is one thing, but there are those blinded by bribery (Exodus 23:8; Deuteronomy 16:19), by disobedience (Isaiah 29:9-10), there is blind leadership (Isaiah 56:10; Matthew 15:14; 23:17-19, 24-26), spiritual blindness (2 Corinthians 3:14; 4:4; Ephesians 4:18; Revelation 3:17), and the blindness of hatred (1 John 2:11). Jesus healed both physical and spiritual blindness.

To set at liberty those who are oppressed

Not just an announcement of freedom for captives but actual deliverance from all that oppresses or breaks in pieces (Isaiah 58:6), whether it is our own sins or the sins of others.

To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord

This is a reference to the year of jubilee, an economic system unheard of in a self-centered world. Unlike socialism, it was designed to redistribute wealth into private hands, and give true equality of opportunity. Unlike capitalism, it was designed to prevent the monopoly of resources and give release from debt.

Postlude

God sent His Son to bring good news to the poor, to heal broken hearts, give sight to the blind, true freedom and a Jubilee celebration where all debts, including all sins are canceled. Will you have a change of heart and believe the good news? You decide!