December 29, 2021 – Isaiah 61:1 & Luke 4:16-21

There is freedom in Christ. Jesus sets captives free. Isaiah understood these things about Messiah’s ministry:

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,

because the Lord has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim freedom for the captives

and release from darkness for the prisoners” (Isaiah 61:1).

Luke reports, “And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him” (Luke 4:16-17). Jesus read this passage from Isaiah and explained, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21). It’s no wonder at all that Philip Doddridge could write:

Hark the glad sound! The Savior comes,

the Savior promised long;

let ev’ry heart prepare a throne

and ev’ry voice a song.

He comes the pris’ners to release,

in Satan’s bondage held;

the gates of brass before him burst,

the iron fetters yield.

He comes the broken heart to bind,

the bleeding soul to cure,

and with the treasures of his grace,

to enrich the humble poor.

Our glad hosannas, Prince of Peace,

your welcome shall proclaim,

and heav’n’s eternal arches ring,

with your beloved name. -- Philip Doddridge (1735)