To Proclaim the Favorable Year of the Lord

It is my firm belief that Jesus publicly announced His ministry in the synagogue of Nazareth (His hometown). It was here that he stood & read from Isaiah 61. There are so many interesting things about the way in which Jesus did this, but one of the most interesting things is that He didn't read all of the section. He stopped with the words: "To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord."

This announcement, along with the way in which Jesus ministered to the people, gives profound insight into the heart of God. After reading these words He closed the scroll, sat down, and said "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." I can almost hear a disciple saying "THAT JUST HAPPENED!!!"

Isaiah 61 definitely defines the ministry of Jesus: Preach the Gospel to the Poor, Proclaim Release to the Captives, Recovery of Sight to the Blind, Set Free Those Who Are Oppressed, & the Proclaim the Favorable Year. When we read the Gospels, we see that Jesus has come against the darkness that has blinded men from the one true God & the religion they had created in the midst of that darkness.

Probably one of the most radical elements of Jesus' ministry is that He lives with an unoffended heart towards those on the outside. He saw within the prostitutes, the tax collectors, and other "sinners" a genuine desire to come into the light. He points this out to the religious leaders by saying that when John came baptizing with water, these people showed up. He could look past their problems, their sins, and could see them trying to get to the light.

Is it any wonder that Jesus could say, "God did not send His Son into the word to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved"? He didn't come to exact vengeance. He didn't come to pronounce judgment. He came to rescue & to save. Knowing the heart of the Father for His creation, He came right into our midst to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord. It could be that we just don't realize the significance of these words. Most of us did not grow up in this type of environment. It may be hard for us to understand the isolation, the shame, and the condemnation that this culture had created. In a Law driven society, rocks are at the ready. Jesus steps right into this time period and says "Let him who is without sin among you cast the first stone."

The ministry of Jesus causes me to question the way in which I interact with people. In particular, can I live with an unoffended heart? I mean if Jesus can stand in the midst of those struggling through the darkness...if He can be with those condemned by the Law and not pronounce judgement...if He can dine with the most notorious of people...it may be time to reconsider just how good our Good News is to the world. It seems to me that our greatest struggle can be our greatest asset. The unoffended heart opens the door to the outcast and welcomes them to the loving heart of the Father.

***Just a side note: Have you ever noticed that times that Jesus referred to God as "God" rather than Father?
Jesus almost always spoke of His Father. If we read of Him talking about God, you can be sure that He is doing it for the benefit of the listener.***

Here's what I'm discovering about the ministry of Jesus: There is no one outside of the Father's love. When we read the story of the prodigal we find that both sons are loved by the Father. The elder & the younger have a place in His heart. It's amazing to consider that God's love is so far reaching. While He hates to see us struggling in the darkness, He also hates to see His children hardened towards those who are coming home. This is the year of the Lord's favor. A year of jubilee when the captives go free. It's what Jesus came to proclaim, initiate, and pass on to His disciples.

Let me encourage you today. Ask the Father to give you His compassion for all people. May we not only proclaim the year of the Lord's favor but may they see in us a light in the darkness. May they discover the way home to the Father's heart through us.