LIBERTY

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 61-62

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

An actor at Nazareth Village in Nazareth talks to a group of men and boys in the synagogue. This amazing effort by Nazareth believers in Jesus is worth the trip to Israel all by itself. God willing our children will be hosting tours of Israel this Fall. The group often sits together in this very replica of a first century synagogue to read the words of Jesus’ sermon to the people of His hometown (from today’s key verse).

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verses: Isaiah 61:1-2a

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,

Because the Lord has anointed Me

To preach good tidings to the poor;

He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,

To proclaim liberty to the captives,

And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,

Yes, that’s a comma after our key verses, not a period. When Jesus read this prophecy in His hometown synagogue, He stopped in the middle of a sentence and closed the Book; then He proclaimed, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Obviously He deliberately left out reading the rest of verse 2 which speaks of “the day of vengeance,” since the “Day of the Lord” would not take place until His second coming. He made it clear in this way that we are now in the day of grace, not vengeance! (2 Peter 3:8-10). Consider the statements of Jesus recorded in Luke 17:20-37. The judgement day is coming, but in this age the operative words are “the poor,” “healing the broken-hearted,” “deliverance to the captives,” “recovery of sight,” and “set at liberty those who are oppressed.” Jesus identifies Himself as the One who is fulfilling this prophecy. There is no guess work here! This verse powerfully confirms the Trinity…Father God, the Son of God, and the Holy Spirit!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, thank you for revealing to Your prophet the text on which Jesus would preach in His first recorded public message. I pray that I will be more like Jesus in ways that I, as His follower, can be and do. In His Name I ask for grace to share His love more and more. Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

One of my heroes in christian ministry is Rev. Homer Cantelon. It was in 2014 that he departed this life and went to stand before his Lord and Saviour in person. He was a World War II veteran who fought in the liberation of Holland. I remember seeing pictures of this big man as he walked down the streets of the town he had helped liberate on the 50th anniversary of the surrender of the Nazis. The people were cheering the Canadians loudly. I write about Homer on pages 129 &130 of my book, This Far by Faith. In my opinion, there is no one I know that exemplified the ministry of Jesus, as stated in our key verses, more than Homer Cantelon. He literally participated in bringing “Liberty to the Captives” in Holland, and throughout his life of Christian ministry he has brought eternal “Liberty” to many, many more (Homer was interviewed on the 100 Huntley Street telecast a few years ago by his son Jim. Click here for part one of the interview…and click here for part two).

Yours for carrying on the ministry of Jesus,

David