Verse of the Day 3/23

Through the Bible - Joshua 11-12, Luke 4

 

Good morning,

For today's verse we'll go to today's New Testament reading in Luke 4.  As Jesus begins His public ministry He is in the temple and is handed a scroll from Isaiah to read..

 

Luke 4:18 "The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
  19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."    NIV

As you look at the people that Jesus came to bring the "good news" to, what common thread do you see?  They were people that needed help from outside of themselves.  They weren't looking just to fill a void in part of THEIR lives.

They were looking for some good news, perhaps after years or a life of illness, oppression, or captivity.  They were looking for a healer, a deliverer, a redeemer, a friend who would stick closer than a brother, a Savior .  All these things can be found in Jesus, only in Jesus.

 

Jesus still comes to those today who have these physical needs as well as the poor in spirit, those suffering from spiritual blindness, those held captive by sin and additctions, and those oppressed by the ruler of this world and it's vain pursuits.

 

"The Pharisees and Sadducecs despised the poor; ancient philosophers neglected them; but the gospel seeks to bless them-to give comfort where it is felt to be needed, and where it will be received with gratitude. Riches fill the mind with pride, with self-complacency, and with a feeling that the gospel is not needed. The poor "feel" their need of some sources of comfort that the world cannot give, and accordingly our Saviour met with his greatest success the gospel among the poor; and there also, "since," the gospel has shed its richest blessings and its purest joys. It is also one proof that the gospel is true. If it had been of "men," it would have sought the rich and mighty; but it pours contempt on all human greatness, and seeks, like God, to do good to those whom the world overlooks or despises. "  (from Barnes' Notes)

Do you know some or someone, who has these needs whether physical or spiritual?  Someone that the world has "overlooked"?  How might you minister to them today to bring the good news of the Lord's favor?

 

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

Luke 4:14-22

 

Jesus Rejected at Nazareth

 

14 Then Jesus returned to Galilee, filled with the Holy Spirit's power. Reports about him spread quickly through the whole region. 15 He taught regularly in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.

 

16 When he came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the Scriptures. 17 The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written:

 

18 "The Spirit of the LORD is upon me,
for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released,
that the blind will see,
that the oppressed will be set free,
19 and that the time of the LORD's favor has come."

 

20 He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at him intently. 21 Then he began to speak to them. "The Scripture you've just heard has been fulfilled this very day!"  NLT