Free In Jesus…Indeed

The salvation of Christ is fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. More specifically, Isaiah declared a message of hope to the remnant of Israel whose homeland would be destroyed. They would be carried away into exile by their Babylonian conquerors into foreign land where they would endure grievance hardships and bondage due to their refusal to repent (for continual disobedience of God’s commands) while in the Promised Land. Isaiah prophesied to ancient Israel about a day when God would end their physical captivity and return them to Israel. He also looked forward almost 700 years when Jesus would walk the earth to execute a release from spiritual captivity of God’s people (composed of every nation, tribe, and tongue). He would achieve this by means of his humiliation of the cross and exaltation of his resurrection.

In our focus scripture, Luke records that Jesus has just begun ministry. He makes a stop in his hometown (Nazareth) to read scripture in the local synagogue as was the ritual of rabbi’s. It is not mistake that he intentionally turns to the scroll of Isaiah and reads aloud the prophecy of the Messiah which was all fulfilled in himself. In it, he reveals his mission statement from Heaven for all those who believe in him by faith for salvation. Let us briefly explore riches of Jesus words on that day.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me…” This is a reference to the coming Messiah who would be anointed by the Spirit by an act of the Father. He would be set apart and empowered for his assigned mission. The Spirit would come “upon” him in a way never administered before on the saints of the Old Testament. He (the Spirit) would not simply fill Jesus for certain events, but would now live in him (never to depart). The Greek word for “upon” is “ἐπί” (Transliteration: epi), which essentially means “of rest”. The dative case of this word is helpful since the Father is the agent by which transmission of the Spirit to his Son occurs. Jesus is the first to have the Spirit rest and dwell in him, which foreshadows what the Father would perform towards and upon all believers (starting the day of Pentecost, cf., Jn 14:26).

“to proclaim good news to the poor…” Through Jesus, the Father will announce the only way for salvation for humanity. Only the “poor” (in spirit) will hear and receive this message. Meaning, those who recognize their spiritual poverty and inability to free oneself from it. Along with the Beatitudes, Isa 66:2 is in view here, “But this is the one to whom I look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.”

“to proclaim liberty to the captives…” Jesus has come to the prison that Satan has held all humanity with the authority and currency (ransom) to post bond for our freedom.

“and recovery of sight to the blind…” This imagery being used here is that of a dark dungeon in Satan’s prison of sin, where our eyes had acclimated to unrighteousness and unending lostness. Upon our release, we come out into the light of day and in a sense recovery our ability to see the righteousness of God.

Jesus mission is summarized in this next line of prophecy, “…to set a liberty those who are oppressed…” In other words, before Jesus, all of mankind was enslaved to the power of sin and death (Rom 3:23, 5:12). The keys to our spiritual captivity was held by Satan as he functioned as the prison warden.

But now Jesus has come! Hallelujah! He has entered into the darkness of our enslavement. He has rolled the proverbial “rock” away from the tomb where we bound in grave cloths (dead in our sins) unable to free ourselves from its grip and bondage. And by declaring the good news of the Gospel, he spoke to us and we are now free to come out tomb of death, the prison of enslavement, our dungeon of sin! Truly, this prophecy reminds us of our great salvation we have received in Jesus. For who the Son sets free, is free indeed! Amen!

Blessings,

Dr. Jason S. Price, Th.D.

www.springoflivingwaters.com