LUKE 4:18-19
“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 favour.”
PONDER THIS:
Hometown Advantage. We saw it again last night with Ash Barty's great win in the Australian Open. Familiar surroundings, Patriotic crowd. The cheers that went up when she won a point sounded so much louder than the 14,000 people that were there. In some sports, you definitely see the ability of the crowd to influence an umpire's call. But crowds can be fickle too. On the one hand, they can be quick to join the bandwagon when things are good, willing to get on board when there is a self-benefit but say something that the crowd don't agree with, say something that challenges the status quo, and the adoring crowd can turn in an instant. That's what is happening in these verses today, from Luke 4:14-30. Jesus begins his ministry with a hometown advantage, among people who know him, who have watched him grow up. Luke tells us that "all spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words coming from his mouth" Luke 4:22. But how quickly things turned. They liked what Jesus said, until they didn't, until they realised that there was no hometown privilege or advantage. Jesus' came to proclaim Good News to the poor. His presence is always good news that transforms the life of all who are willing to acknowledge their poverty in life without him. His Word confronts us at the deepest part of our lives to bring freedom and release and open up new possibilities. But I wonder...do we also like what Jesus says, until we don't? Until it challenges our status quo, our comfort, our lifestyle? Our perceived privilege? Does our familiarity with Jesus over the years (we've known him for years) actually stop us hearing his Word as Good News in our life, in our situation? Is Jesus today, calling you as his anointed one in baptism, to get up and go from where you are comfortable, to proclaim his Good News to people around you who need to know that the Lord's favour is on them...that Jesus is for them? I wonder...are you part of the cheering crowd or the jeering crowd today? Take some time to ponder these questions honestly today. For today, in Jesus, Scripture is fulfilled for you.
PRAYER:
Lord Jesus, open my heart to acknowledge my poverty and my need for your good news in my life today. May your Word to me be fulfilled, bringing the freedom and openness to truly live in your presence today. Amen.
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