Bible League: Living His Word "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."— Luke 4:18-19 ESV In our verses for today, Jesus quotes extensively from the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 61:1). The prophecy originally applied to the restoration of the Jewish people from the Babylonian Captivity, but it has a greater application to the ministry of Jesus. In effect, it summarizes the main benefits to us of his ministry on earth. First, the Spirit of the Lord anointed Jesus to "proclaim good news to the poor." The good news, of course, is the good news of the Gospel. It is the good news that a way of salvation is available. It is for "the poor." Who are the poor? They are all who are "poor in spirit" (Matthew 5:3). It is those humble enough to accept the good news message—those who know they need Jesus Christ in their lives. Second, the Spirit anointed Jesus to "proclaim liberty to the captives." Originally referring to the captives of Babylon, for Jesus it refers to all those who are captives of Satan, captured by him to do his will (2 Timothy 2:26). Just as the captives of Babylon were released from captivity, so the captives of Satan will be released if they have faith in Jesus. Third, the Spirit anointed Jesus for the "recovering of sight to the blind." This was literally fulfilled in the healing ministry of Jesus, but it refers primarily to those that have been spiritually blinded by Satan (2 Corinthians 4:4). Those that accept the gospel message will recover their spiritual sight. Fourth, the Spirit anointed Jesus to "set at liberty those who are oppressed." Originally referring to the oppressed of Babylon, Jesus sets at liberty those oppressed by the devil. Jesus had, of course, an extensive deliverance ministry. Finally, the Spirit anointed Jesus to "proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." The "year of the Lord's favor" is not a literal year. In Isaiah, it refers to the time of acceptance and blessing of those released from captivity in Babylon, but Jesus uses the term to refer to the time of acceptance and blessing of those who repent and acknowledge him as Lord and Savior. If you accept the good news, if you accept Jesus Christ, then all these benefits of His Gospel message belong to you. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingDeuteronomy 8, 9, 10 Deuteronomy 8 -- God's Mercy NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Deuteronomy 9 -- Reminders of God's Grace; The Golden Calf NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Deuteronomy 10 -- Rewriting of Stone Tablets Recalled NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Mark 12:28-44 Mark 12 -- The Parable of the Tenants; Render to Caesar; Marriage at the Resurrection; Greatest Commandment; Widow's Offering NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Enter his gates with thanksgiving;go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. Insight This psalm tells us to remember God's goodness and dependability, and then to worship with thanksgiving and praise! Challenge God alone is worthy of being worshiped. What is your attitude toward worship? Do you willingly and joyfully come into God's presence, or are you just going through the motions, reluctantly going to church? Morning and Evening by Spurgeon John 15:4 Abide in me.Communion with Christ is a certain cure for every ill. Whether it be the wormwood of woe, or the cloying surfeit of earthly delight, close fellowship with the Lord Jesus will take bitterness from the one, and satiety from the other. Live near to Jesus, Christian, and it is a matter of secondary importance whether thou livest on the mountain of honor or in the valley of humiliation. Living near to Jesus, thou art covered with the wings of God, and underneath thee are the everlasting arms. Let nothing keep thee from that hallowed intercourse, which is the choice privilege of a soul wedded to the well-beloved . Be not content with an interview now and then, but seek always to retain his company, for only in his presence hast thou either comfort or safety. Jesus should not be unto us a friend who calls upon us now and then, but one with whom we walk evermore. Thou hast a difficult road before thee: see, O traveller to heaven, that thou go not without thy guide. Thou hast to pass through the fiery furnace; enter it not unless, like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, thou hast the Son of God to be thy companion. Thou hast to storm the Jericho of thine own corruptions: attempt not the warfare until, like Joshua, thou hast seen the Captain of the Lord's host, with his sword drawn in his hand. Thou art to meet the Esau of thy many temptations: meet him not until at Jabbok's brook thou hast laid hold upon the angel, and prevailed. In every case, in every condition, thou wilt need Jesus; but most of all, when the iron gates of death shall open to thee. Keep thou close to thy soul's Husband, lean thy head upon his bosom, ask to be refreshed with the spiced wine of his pomegranate, and thou shalt be found of him at the last, without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing. Seeing thou hast lived with him, and lived in him here, thou shalt abide with him forever. Daily Light on the Daily Path Revelation 14:3 And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one could learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been purchased from the earth.Hebrews 10:20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, Titus 3:5,6 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, • whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, Ephesians 2:8,9 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; • not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. Psalm 115:1 Not to us, O LORD, not to us, But to Your name give glory Because of Your lovingkindness, because of Your truth. Revelation 1:5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood-- Revelation 5:9 And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. Revelation 7:9,10 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; • and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. 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