Luke 4:18-21
18 “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, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.” 20 And [Jesus] rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
Jesus told us exactly what He came to do: He came to bring good news to those who need it. If you read the part of the Old Testament Jesus quotes from here (Isaiah 61), it tells of the Lord coming to captive, brokenhearted, mourning people covered in ashes and lying in ruins. The Lord picks them up, frees them, cleans them, and fills them with joy. He then has them rebuild the ruined city they were in. What does that mean for us?
Jesus said He fulfilled that prophecy. That meant he was looking at people who were dirty, captive, broken, and sad and He came to make them sing. Jesus has come to make you clean, to forgive you and bring you into the Lord’s favor, where broken things are fixed, captives are released, and joy overflows constantly. Ask Him to forgive you, see your captivity to sin and come to Jesus to be cleaned. He will do it, and you will be free!
Prayer prompt: Lord, make me part of your work to bring people back to you!