SUBJ: Our Lord's declaration at
Nazareth that He was indeed the Messiah and so declares the Gospel to
them from the prophet Isaiah with all the substance therein declared.
AIM: That we might see all our needs
described and met here in the Words of our Lord and so be in a way of
praise and worship at such a day as this is.
INTR: The thoughts that brought me to
this text having their origin in the Old Testament but landing here with
the Gospel we would preach - is there any significance to fifty?
The
event that transpired here at Nazareth is not thought to be in
chronological order. Some feel that Luke tended to lean toward a logical
presentation of the Lord's ministry.
Regardless of that we note that
there is much that is fundamental to what Christ would communicate to
them and which we would continue in Gospel seeing and preaching the
substance of the Gospel.
In this we will see a most powerful
application of the Old Testament Scripture as well as what to expect
from the world - how quickly the perception changed from a gracious
observance to hostility toward Him.
THESIS: The preaching of the Gospel entails addressing the most
basic of human needs and profound deficiency and then presenting the
only means whereby deliverance is accomplished.
The event and the
reason of it (vv. 16-17)
It is interesting to note that Jesus was
often pleased to honor the traditions of the fathers and did so on this
occasion. This even though the conditions morally and spiritually were
terrible.
After all, He had returned to Nazareth where He was well
known.
Some typical things about these services in the synagogues are
here noted:
The books of Moses were read in regular order with a
passage in sequence each Sabbath.
Readings from else where may have
been chosen by another or by the reader.
In any event, He was handed
the scroll of the Book of Isaiah and it is said "He found the place
where it was written."
Some have thought this to be providential and
the thought occurs to me that it may be possible that the Mosaic reading
may have been from Leviticus 25 where we read of Jubilee.
The
message He preached (vv. 18-21)
Herein is the essence of the message
that remains current and brings the claims of the Gospel to bear.
Two
different words are used here for preach - the first is that which means
to evangelize or to bring good new.
The second is found in v. 19 and
means to herald an event or something happening. It was the message of
the crier.
We must consider the substance of that which was preached:
The Gospel to the poor - those poor in substance, honor, destitute of
Christian virtue, and who are powerless to accomplish whatever is
needed. Blessed are the poor in Spirit.
To heal the brokenhearted -
hearts that are shattered to pieces, crushed, and are brought to see
their condition.
Deliverance to the captives - literally prisoners of
war and consider the state of all before as being the captives of an old
nature, the world, and the devil.
Recovering sight to the blind - the
physically or mentally unseeing. Here we would understand the
illuminating power of the Holy Spirit.
Liberty to the bruised -
again, broken and smitten through.
And to herald the "Acceptable Year
of the Lord."
Many think that the parallels here and elsewhere are
unmistakable references to the year of Jubilee from the Old Testament.
It was after a period of seven sabbath years that Jubilee as sounded and
there was a restoration of all things.
In particular, indentured
servants were freed, and inheritances were restored.
We are thus
drawn to N. T. thought as: "...Now is the accepted time; behold, now is
the day of salvation (2 Cor. 6:2)"
The most profound declaration:
This is the day here spoken of and He was the One saying it. "Earth
shall keep her Jubilee, Jesus saves, Jesus saves!"
The reaction
then and now (vv. 22-24)
They acknowledged the words but not the
reader.
The demands He anticipated from them and
The declaration
concerning them.
We consider the following response to their anger.
It was here that it was said of Him that “He did not many mighty works
there because of their unbelief.”
How is it now with men? Are we
rejoicing in that we have been delivered from abject poverty, healed of
our broken hearts, freed from the clutches of this present world, and
set at liberty to worship our worthy Lord forever?
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