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The
Cry for Freedom
~ Eric
Shaw
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 freedom 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 (Luke 4:18-19). Israel
believed this text would announce the Messiah’s coming
and the beginning of the Year of Jubilee. Everyone was to
get a new beginning – the poor, oppressed, blind, and
indebted. The Messiah would make all things new in every
aspect – physically, spiritually, socially, financially.
Jesus was quoting from Isaiah 61:1-2 picturing the Year of
Jubilee when all debts were to be cancelled, all slaves were
to be freed, and all property returned to original owners
(Leviticus 25). Israel had been freed from Babylonian captivity,
however, they were still a conquered and oppressed people.
Isaiah was looking forward to a future Messianic age which
Jesus was announcing. Jesus was the one who would bring this
good news to pass but in a very different way than anyone
expected. Do you feel you live in freedom? Or do you sometimes
feel like you just move from one captivity to another? Paul
says he lived in bondage until he met Jesus. Then he was
free!
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