Continuing in the "Breaking Free" study by Beth Moore, God has been faithful to show me what He meant when He said to me that He will reveal Himself to me like I never have seen Him before.
Looking at Jesus in Luke 4. He had just been tested in the wilderness and as Luke describes "Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit..." Luke 4:14.
He then describes a dramatic moment and I cannot say it better than he did:
16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
Looking at Jesus in Luke 4. He had just been tested in the wilderness and as Luke describes "Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit..." Luke 4:14.
He then describes a dramatic moment and I cannot say it better than he did:
16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”[f]
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”[f]
20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
What a dramatic moment this must have been. The Jews were waiting for centuries and this "Joseph's son" dared to call Himself the fulfilment of the scriptures.
Memories of Julius and our trip to Israel came flooding back. I remember sitting in an excavated synagogue that is said to be this very site and reading this very passage and us both closing our eyes to picture this scene. Lord thank you for these memories - still so painful and yet precious to hold on to.
Jesus was quoting Isaiah 61. Never thought of it this way but Beth Moore describes it as Jesus' personal charter, His job description.
Isaiah 61 says that Jesus came to proclaim good news to the poor, to bind the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release prisoners from darkness and to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour.
Again how many times have I read this scripture and not thought much of it but this time it takes on a completely different meaning for me. I can trust my broken heart to Jesus to be healed, because He said He will.
Dear reader where do you find yourself in this list?
Are longing for good news? Are you feeling devoid of energy and even the will to go on? Are you stuck in a rut? a bondage of fear, despair, hopelessness? doubt? has life lost meaning for you? are younot seeing a future and therefore blind to the plans that He promises are for your good? do you not understand why you are where you are? Is your heart broken?
Turn to Him loved one. He is able, more than able. Read His Word daily and He will reveal Himself to you. He is doing it for me.
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