God's favor for those who listen

“… to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.” (Luke 4:19)

Jesus after, reading from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah, “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 favor.” The crowd amazed by the confidence and authority of Jesus’ words knowing fully that when Isaiah wrote these things it was a prophecy of a coming King who would lead the Jewish people out from under the captivity of the Babylonians and give them liberty lost through years of worshipping false gods and neglecting the word of God. But, “what now,” is this amazing man telling us when he claims, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” (v21) They must have been confused in their amazement, knowing their history so well, how could Jesus tell us this Scripture is only now being fulfilled? Bestowed, however, with the gift of hindsight, we can look back on Isaiah 61:1-3 and see its double meaning as the Great Expositor reveals this second prophecy of God’s son, “the Lord’s favor.”

Jesus declared two very important things in verse 21. First, "THIS DAY” (Isaiah 61) “… is fulfilled." But equally important he elaborated with the three word phrase “in your hearing.” Jesus made a declaration that on that very day He was the Messiah! He was telling an awestruck audience who had heard this scroll read many times before the synagogue priests that today, the promised “Anointed One” was standing in their midst. Their reaction, however, solidified the caveat, “in your hearing.” The words still reverberating in their ears, several (likely most) immediately began to question Jesus. Despite what they had seen him do, the miracles he performed and the sinless life he had demonstrated, many doubted Him. “All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked.” (v 22) Jesus defended himself quoting scripture and explaining their spiritual blindness. The conversation ending as the crowd erupted in anger driving Jesus to the outskirts of town and the edge of a cliff and cast Him to his death. (v 28-29)

Clearly the message of God through Jesus Christ is as dependent today on hearing ears as it was then. Almost 2000 years later, "the acceptable year of the Lord," continues as good news goes out to the spiritually poor; healing for the brokenhearted; deliverance for those enslaved by sin; restoration of the spiritually blind; and liberation for those oppressed by darkness. But, where His presence is rejected, and the Jesus of man’s creation does not fulfill expectations, Jesus cannot show God’s favor. While the season of God’s favor remains there is time to hear but Jesus will not force Himself upon the spiritually deaf. Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door (to your heart) and knock…” He is ready to release God’s favor in your life and set you free. Open your ears to His call, before Jesus completes Isaiah’s prophecy and proclaims, “the day of vengeance of our God.” (Is 61: 2) On that day, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is LORD, (Phi 2:10) and no one will be hard of hearing!