Luke 4:13-19: a reflection

13When the devil had completed every temptation, he departed from him until another time. 14Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee, and news about him spread through all the surrounding area. 15He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. 16He came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. He entered, as was his custom, into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17The book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. He opened the book, and found the place where it was written, 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 heal the broken hearted, to proclaim release to the captives, recovering of sight to the blind, to deliver those who are crushed, 19and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

At the beginning of his ministry, Jesus comes to the synagogue in Nazareth, where he had grown up, and stands up to read. He is handed the scroll of Isaiah, and reads a passage that announces his mission: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, and to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. This, Jesus declares, is what he has come to do.

Notice for whom Jesus came, according to his own announcement: the poor, the brokenhearted, the captive, the blind, the oppressed. He did not come primarily for the strong, the self-sufficient, the whole; he came to bring good news to the poor, healing to the brokenhearted, freedom to the captive, sight to the blind, release to the oppressed. His mission was aimed at the lowly and the afflicted, those who knew their need. This is the kind of Savior Jesus is.

That is good news for all who are poor, broken, captive, or oppressed, in whatever way. If you are aware of your poverty of soul, your brokenness of heart, your bondage to what you cannot free yourself from, your blindness, your burdens, then you are exactly the kind of person Jesus came for. He came to bring good news to such as you, to heal, to free, to give sight, to release. Do not think you must first make yourself strong and whole to come to him; come as you are, poor and broken and burdened, for these are the very ones he came to save. Bring your poverty, your brokenness, your bondage to the Christ who was anointed to bring good news to the poor and release to the captive, and find in him the good news he came to give.

Lord Jesus, at the start of your ministry you announced your mission: anointed by the Spirit to bring good news to the poor, healing to the brokenhearted, release to the captives, sight to the blind, freedom to the oppressed. Thank you that this is the kind of Savior you are. You did not come primarily for the strong, the self-sufficient, the whole, but for the lowly and afflicted, those who know their need. This is good news for me, in whatever way I am poor, broken, captive, or oppressed. When I am aware of my poverty of soul, my brokenness of heart, my bondage to what I cannot free myself from, my burdens, remind me that I am exactly the kind of person you came for. Keep me from thinking I must first make myself strong and whole to come to you; help me come as I am, poor and broken and burdened, for these are the very ones you came to save. I bring my poverty and bondage to you; give me the good news and freedom you came to bring.