I love how Luke describes Jesus in this passage. “In the power of the Holy Spirit.” The location is important because Jesus has returned to where he grew up. These folks know Jesus. In this passage they like Jesus but stick around for next week when they want to kill him. I like how Luke tells us that this was Jesus’ custom. He went to synagogue. I’m not sure if Isaiah was the intended reading for that day, like we have picked readings, was this random, or did they specifically want Jesus to read from this passage. Regardless, it is important that Jesus reads from the prophet because the prophet’s words are fulfilled in Jesus. But what is the prophet going to do? “Bring good news to the poor.” “Proclaim release to the captives.” “Recovery of sight to the blind.” “Free the oppressed.” “Proclaim the year of God’s favor.”



Everyone there would have known these words from Isaiah, were they captivated by Jesus’ comments on them, or that Jesus reminded them what Isaiah had said all those years ago? As the generations came and went maybe they created their own idea of what they wanted the messiah to be. Under Roman rule a messiah that would rid them of their oppressors sounds pretty nice, but that’s not what the prophet said. If you are one of the ones mentioned in that Isaiah reading, Jesus’ words bring you hope. If you are one of the other side of situation, and maybe you have caused some of the things that Isaiah prophesies about, you may feel very uncomfortable. We know Luke’s audience so most likely he had in mind the poor, the captive, the blind, the oppressed. Jesus’ brief sermon on Isaiah remind them that the messiah is for them when they probably feel like nothing is for them. This is the good news that they needed to hear.