Uproar

“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.”

A pause as all eyes are fixed on Jesus….

“Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

(Luke 4:18-19, 21)

Upheaval and uproar.

400 years. 

Not a single word from God was written about for 400 years before Jesus came to dwell among us. Like our world today, the Jews had lost their way and given into sin and empty religion. God was silent and hope seemed to be lost. Everyone like sheep had gone their own way and all that was left was a promise like this one from the book of Isaiah: that there would come a day when hope and liberty would return upon the earth, a day when God’s favor would fall on His people and bring peace. 

These words spoken by Jesus were not the first time the synagogue, or place of worship, had heard this prophecy. Written in the book of the prophet Isaiah nearly 600 years earlier, these words were likely a beacon of hope for God’s people throughout generations of a coming dawn when justice would roll down upon the earth and all that was broken would be made right. 

But who is it that is anointed herald of this good news? 

They were expecting a Savior, but would they recognize him when he came?

600 years after this prophecy was written, a virgin named Mary gave birth to a son in a little town called Bethlehem. There, in a feeding trough, the Son of God was born. Skin and bone like us, yet perfect and without sin or corruption. 

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)

And yet, the world did not recognize him. Born in such a natural way, those who knew Jesus could not believe what He proclaimed of Himself.

Son of God? How could it be?

We have seen him grow up and learn how to work like the rest of us. We know His parents. How could He claim that His Father is in heaven? How can He say that He is Lord of my life?  I can’t let that be!

They were filled with outrage and attempted to throw Jesus off of a cliff, but passing through their midst He went away and continued to preach to those whose hearts were open. A little while later they nailed Him to a tree. 

Is Jesus offensive to you? When you examine your own life and see the heavy weight of your evil thoughts and intentions of the heart, do you cringe at holiness and desire to throw it off of a cliff, hoping to appear better than you are?

Or will you run towards it? 

Is the hope of salvation and justice running down upon the earth worth giving your heart and affections to? Are you ready to lay down your burden at the feet of the One who can make you clean and set your heart right once more?

Ready or not, Jesus came for you. All of these years later, He is still waiting to open your eyes and to set your heart free. 

Nailed on the cross, yet resurrected triumphantly three days later, He is the risen Savior of the world. 

“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” – John 6:68

“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” –Romans 10:9