Today’s devotion is based on Week 4 of “Resolve”: Listen to the right source! (WATCH HERE)
I love good news. Don’t you?
Your child comes home and says, “Guess what? I got a 100% on my math test!” Good news!
A friend or family member announces, “We just had a baby!” Good news!
A spouse comes home from work, “I just got a raise!” Good news!
Good news is great to hear…and exciting to share.
There was a buzz in Nazareth as Jesus, the hometown boy, had come home and was in town for the Sabbath. As was his custom he went into the synagogue (A great reminder that regular time in worship with other believers around the Word of God is so important and is best when it is “our custom”!). As one who was recognized as a budding rabbi, Jesus was invited to speak on the Scripture before his home crowd.
Unrolling the scroll of Isaiah, he turns to the verses from chapter 61:
Luke 4:17-19 Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Jesus recognized he was set apart by the Spirit to fulfill the prophecy given by Isaiah.
First in the list: Proclaim good news to the poor.
The poor were not those that were struggling with their finances. The good news wasn’t a forgiveness of student loans or credit card debt.
As with all of these phrases from Isaiah, they have spiritual connections.
The good news was the lifting of the spiritual burden from souls that were burdened with the weight of guilt and recognition their relationship with God was not something they could solve by personal ambition, pride or accomplishment.
Jesus said as he taught the crowd on the mount: (Matthew 5:3)
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Jesus came to not just proclaim good news, but to accomplish all that was necessary to lift the weight of guilt from the spirit of every soul. As Isaiah said in chapter 53, “The Lord laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Every spirit that recognizes their deep need for the grace of God receives the good news that your sins are removed, the kingdom of heaven is yours.
Just when you thought you would never experience the joys of heaven, the message and work of Jesus doesn’t just proclaim good news, he gives us good news…
…and that’s news worth sharing!
Apply: What good news truths from Jesus lift your spirit and give you joy?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for not only proclaiming good news, but doing all that was necessary to unburden our souls with the promise and truth of eternal life through you. AMEN.