Words of Reflection
The first sermon of Jesus reveals to us his own awareness of his mission. He knows why he has come to earth, and the words from Isaiah capture his purpose perfectly:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (vv. 18-19)
In just a brief collection of words so much is promised and proclaimed: the poor receive good news, the captives are promised freedom, the blind are told they will regain their sight, and the oppressed are told their time of bondage is coming to and end. It is, indeed, the year of the Lord’s favor.
I’ve always been struck by the quick reversal of the synagogue crowd in this passage. Luke tells us that they, at first, “spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came out of his mouth.” (v. 22) You can feel the power of his words hanging in the air, but then doubt starts to sink into the crowd with a turn towards “Wait, we know this guy, who does he think he is anyway?” When Jesus points out that prophets are rarely welcomed in their hometown, and that others will be open to the message, their doubt quickly turns to anger and violent intent.
When Jesus was promising good things for them, the crowd seems amenable to his message. It appears as though they don’t get offended until he mentions the widow of Zarephath and Naaman the Syrian, as if it’s the idea that God’s grace is available even to Gentiles that raises their ire. I’ve always been taught that the crowd in Nazareth reacted to Jesus’ claim that he fulfills the text, which I’m sure is there, but it seems they’re also reacting to his claim that the text includes all the people of the world. They’re not just showing their incredulity, they’re also showing their bigotry.
One thing this text highlights for me is that the crowd in Nazareth isn’t really able to see themselves in the text from Isaiah: they don’t recognize that they suffer a poverty of spirit, a captivity to pride, a blindness to God’s covenant promises, and an oppression that has nothing to do with the Roman Empire. They are unable to see the reality of their need, and as such they reject the One who came to meet it.
As we reflect during Advent on God’s salvation promises coming to earth, it is good to be reminded that sometimes we fail to appreciate the richness of the gift because we fail to appreciate the depth of our need. Apart from the grace of God shown in Christ, we, too, remain poor, captive, blind, and oppressed by sin. But the truth of Christmas resonates with Isaiah’s promise: God’s favor has come to earth, and our need for a Savior has been met most miraculously!
Scripture for Meditation:
“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children.”
—Galatians 4:4-5 (NRSVUE)
“Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." —Hebrews 4:16 (NRSVUE)
Song: In Need of a Savior (lyrics here)
Questions for Contemplation:
Spend some time in prayer before God reflecting on your need for a Savior and the way God has met that need in Jesus. In what places of darkness has he met you, and how does that move you to gratitude? In what places are you still waiting, and how might you offer those to God in prayer?
Spend some time praying with this song’s simple refrain: “Come O Lord, Emmanuel. Come in our hearts to dwell.”
Read again the promises that Jesus proclaims from Isaiah—how do they speak to your soul today? What faces come to mind of people who need the truth of those promises in their own life, and how can you pray for them?
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (vv. 18-19)