The Spirit of the Lord is On Me

“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, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” ~Luke 4:18-19

This verse might sound very familiar - on July 5th, we talked about the verse in Isaiah that Jesus quoted here in Luke. He adds a twist, but He’s allowed, being God and all…His audience, the synagogue in Nazareth, was amazed at first at His words full of grace. They most likely recognized that He changed it a bit but not entirely sure. They knew Him as a boy, had watched Him grow up as the son of Joseph and Mary, but who was THIS Jesus? He spoke the Torah with conviction and authority. But then, He tells them that He is fulfilling that prophecy.

I imagine a current of excitement running through the room. But then Jesus speaks of the Gentiles receiving God’s favor when the Jews reject Him. The current turns toxic. What? The Gentiles were dogs, scum of the earth, dirty swine. Verse 28 tells us that they were filled with wrath and tried to throw Jesus off a cliff. His first act of ministry in His hometown and He was already public enemy #1.

Why is humankind so angry when God’s love expands? Why do we always want punishment over mercy?

Just like a parent who thinks they cannot love a second child or furbaby as much as the first one soon finds that they can and do! And a third and so on.

How much MORE is God’s love for humankind?