Verse 14 Jesus returns to Galilee, which is a remote part of the country far from Jerusalem, and He is “in the power of the Spirit.” The devil’s temptations did not leave him depleted but full of the Spirit.
I can testify that when you stand your ground on the Word of God, you are remarkably filled up on the Spirit with more energy.
Verse 15 Jesus’ public ministry begins with him teaching in the synagogues. These are places of public worship, where people met to read the scriptures, study them, and learn to apply the Word and to pray and praise God. The people came here for their church activities and traditions.
This is not the same as the temple that was used for proper ceremonial services (like the Passover Feast, and other honored ceremonies). That’s a more exclusive place.
The people listening had never heard teaching like this before. Jesus was an extraordinary teacher. The people admired him and passed around stories of what they heard.
Verse 16 So Jesus goes back to his hometown Nazareth. Remember these are people looked down upon by society. They are not known to be good people. But since Jesus is gaining popularity in the other places where he has taught, this seems to be a good time to try to share his teaching of the Word where He grew up.
He goes to the synagogue on the Sabbath (today that is Sunday for us, a day reserved for rest and meeting at church to worship God as a body of believers). Jews celebrate the Sabbath on Saturday so that is where we find Jesus here.
Verse 17 Even though Jesus’ public ministry is gaining interest, He doesn’t negate his spiritual practices and duties. He reads the scroll handed to him (back then scriptures were on scrolls) from Isaiah 61:1-2.
Verse 18 These verses are referring to the Messiah. It says “the Spirit of the Lord will be upon Him.” “He will be anointed.” (At Jesus’ baptism, the Holy Spirit came down from heaven upon him in the dove. Since then Jesus has been full of the Spirit (4:1) and teaching in the power of the spirit (4:14)).
The mission of this Messiah is to preach the good news of God’s kingdom to the poor. Not just money poor but also poor in their spirit, humble, truly sorry for their sin. These people would welcome the good news of the gospel. What is the good news? That those who are captive in chains of their own guilt could be freed by the grace of Christ from bondage to it. That those who sit in darkness would see the light. These are the Gentiles (religion and scripture were only made available to Jews back then) and those who are disobedient and do wrong without any sign of repentance.
Verse 19 “and that time of the Lord’s favor has come.” (NLT) or “to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (ESV)
In the Old Testament (Leviticus 25:8-12) this year of the Lord’s favor is known as the year of Jubilee. Back then God was talking to Moses about the conditions the people of Israel would need to keep in the land God was about to give them. They would have a rest day (called the Sabbath) and there would be a Day of Atonement when the issue of sin would be addressed followed by this year of jubilee. The people would be glad (jubilant) because they would be released from their debts and slaves would be set free. It was social and economic liberation. This occurred every 50 years.
Notice this freedom and jubilee or gladness comes after their sin is addressed. We don’t experience true freedom and liberation on the inside (or outside) until our spirit, our sin has been addressed by God. Only our Creator and Justifier can deal with our sin. Jesus came to deal with it. We still have a responsibility to come to Jesus with our sin and confess to him to release that. And then Jesus takes it from us and nails it to the cross He died on to say ‘this too has been covered under my death. This is what I died for. Go be free and sin no more.’ Which is impossible to sin no more without Jesus. So we keep coming back to Him for strength and to be equipped to walk in a better way, a more holy way, the best way.
When we are transformed spiritually, this lays a new foundation for our lives and restructures our social, political, and economic influence in society.
The interesting thing about all this is that the God whom they (we) had offended was willing to reconcile and have a relationship with them through His son Jesus. Those in debt (physically, spiritually) would be released from it and be freed.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, fill me in the power of your Holy Spirit today so that I may have the strength to walk in Your Word and deny the devil any foothold in my life. Help me to stand my ground in You Word and not cave to temptation. I pray right now for any burdens of guilt that are weighing me down to be released in Jesus’ name. Help me to admit my shortcomings and confess this sin so that it may be forgiven and experience the joy that comes from knowing You have covered this too under Your grace. Help me to aim to live according to Your Word, Lord, and throw off the things that so easily entangle me in satan’s traps and temptations. Remove the scales, or the blinders, on my eyes so that I can see Your Living Word and get a revelation of it in my life. Help me to apply Your Word to my life and hear Your voice calling me in the way to go. I declare that this is the year of the Lord’s favor in my life. With Jesus, the Messiah, my Savior living and breathing in me, His favor and blessings and mercy will guide me, cover me, and chase me down. Lay a new foundation of faith and Your Word in my life that my entire future comes into alignment with Your Will for Your children, God. Thank you for reconciling with us, God, and for wanting to have a relationship with me still. Thank you for this freedom I have found in You, Jesus. In Jesus’ name, Amen.