Saturday, January 23, 2010

Epiphany 3

O Lord God Almighty, because You have always supplied Your servants with the several gifts which come from Your Holy Spirit alone, leave also us not destitute of Your manifold gifts nor of grace to use them always to Your honor and glory and the good of others; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever.

In the power of the Holy Spirit poured out on Him at His baptism Jesus begins His ministry. By word and deed Jesus proclaims that God indeed has intervened in our world, wrestling control of humanity and its destiny from the grip of Satan.

It was on a Sabbath that Jesus arrived in Nazareth. As was His practice He went to the synagogue. Now the synagogue worship service was divided up into three parts. In the worship part prayers were offered. The reading of the Scriptures consisted of lessons from the Law, usually read verse by verse by seven persons, and lessons from the prophets read three verses at a time. Teaching formed the third part of the service. On that day Jesus was both reader and preacher. Quoting from the prophet Isaiah Jesus proclaims that a new day has dawned. He is the one anointed by God and because He alone was anointed only He can deliver on what the prophet had predicted.

To the poor – those in utter spiritual destitution – He preaches the good news of God’s mercy which frees us. To the prisoners of war under Satan’s control He proclaims release. To the oppressed – those broken in pieces by sin and shame He proclaims freedom. To one and all in spiritual bondage, blindness, poverty and oppression He announces the arrival of an era in human history that God regards with favor and in which He grants His blessings in abundance. It is the first day of the “year” of Jubilee, a fixed period of time wherein liberty is proclaimed throughout the whole land. The Lord’s New Year of Jubilee is proclaimed…

1. In the Person of His Son Jesus Christ.
A. The Spirit of the Lord was on Him. “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed,” (Luke 4:18)
B. At His baptism He was set apart and endowed for His work in ministry. When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” (Luke 3:21-22)
C. He was sent by God in fulfillment of promise. The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD'S favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. (Isaiah 61:1-3)
D. He came with power and compassion.
1. The power and compassion are seen in His healing signs. Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself! Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.’ ” (Luke 4:23)
2. They are seen above all in His atoning death and resurrection.

Transition: The Lord’s New Year of Jubilee is proclaimed in the Person of His Son Jesus Christ. Because Christ has entered our world it is now the dawn of a new day.

2. God heralds the dawn of the New Year of Jubilee Have the trumpet sounded everywhere on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the Day of Atonement sound the trumpet throughout your land. Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you; each one of you is to return to his family property and each to his own clan. The fiftieth year shall be a jubilee for you; do not sow and do not reap what grows of itself or harvest the untended vines. For it is a jubilee and is to be holy for you; eat only what is taken directly from the fields “‘In this Year of Jubilee everyone is to return to his own property. (Leviticus 25:9-13)
A. It is the acceptable time of the Lord. “…proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:19)
1. The Year of Jubilee originated with the people of Israel (Leviticus 25:8-17)
2. In the New Testament it became a fixed time in the life of Jesus – from the Incarnation to the 2nd Coming.
B. In it God’s grace and love abound. “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed,” (Luke 4:18)
1. To the poor He proclaims the good news, God’s free mercy.
2. To the prisoners of war He proclaims release.
3. To the oppressed He proclaims freedom.
C. This promise is fulfilled today in your hearing. “…and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:21)
1. All promises find their focus in Jesus Christ.
2. This is the day of opportunity for us.
3. Rejoice in your “year of Jubilee!”
Conclusion: Jesus today proclaims liberty. These words are fulfilled in Jesus Christ. As He speaks this word to you this day it is fulfilled in your hearing! Christ has come to set you free to proclaim liberty and freedom. Not as some might define it but as He has established it at the cross and into your life. As the Son has set you free you truly are free indeed!

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