Freedom from Oppression

Luke 4:18-19

This is where Jesus quotes Isaiah in front of his hometown crowd, the very first time he proclaims in public who he is. In a world where people were put in prison for what they believed, a world where Rome was oppressing the Jewish people, it would have been easy for his listeners to believe he was talking literally—that he thought he was some kind of king who would go fight the Romans! Small wonder Nazareth had a hard time stomaching that. It’s only in hindsight that we have a clear picture that the freedom Jesus talks about here is spiritual freedom.

Questions for further thought:
1. Do you think we have freedom to believe what we want today, and to talk about what we believe?
2. Does it surprise you that Jesus talks about freedom so early in his ministry? Do you think anyone listening was spiritually prepared to hear the deeper meaning of his words?  

Challenge: We tend to frame our relationship with Jesus in terms of forgiveness, of blotting out our sins and removing them as far as the east is from the west. But it is also a powerful image to see him severing the chains that bind us to sin with a sword. Imagine Jesus cutting those invisible ties that keep you connected to your sin.