You can read today’s passage by clicking on this sentence.
The sheer audacity of Jesus. ‘Today, this is fulfilled in your hearing’. As so often when we read the Bible far removed from its original context and audience, we can miss the shattering importance of a single sentence. As he stood delivering these words from Isaiah 61, Jesus knew who he was, and his hearers were shocked at the claims he made for himself. Later in the chapter, we read of Jesus’s having enraged them to such an extent that he was driven out of town so as to be hurled off a cliff. He’d pushed them over the edge. They could not, would not, refused to, recognise that Joseph’s son could be the one sent to fulfil the prophecy of Isaiah. For him to do so was not just audacious, it was most likely frightening, if not blasphemous too.
And so, what can seem like a wonderful story of another revelation of the truth of the identity of Jesus runs the risk of losing its human element. When Jesus said what he said, and did what he did, it had consequences for people, consequences that they very often were not ready for.
Those of us who follow Jesus have been called to do as he did, to proclaim good news to the poor, freedom to the captives, sight to those living in darkness, release for the prisoners and the year of the Lord’s favour. We can do it because Jesus was obedient, persistent, purposeful and successful in completing the mission, living the life, that God had given him. We can’t be Jesus, but where we are, as the people God has made us and is making us, we can follow his lead. As our life is hidden with him in God and as we are clothed in the love of God, it’s our privilege to never tire in taking opportunities to speak love in to our culture. We don’t need everyone to end up looking like us. We don’t need to protect God. He can do that perfectly well for himself. Freedom, release, good news, those are the gifts God has given us. Do we live like we’re free and released? Does my life look as if I’ve heard good news and I’m excited to share it? Does yours?