Following the God Who TransformsSample

Read: Luke 4:14–21

14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. 15 He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him. 16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: 18 “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, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

The God of the Oppressed

It is one of the most common questions asked of believers: Where was God in the Holocaust, or the genocides of Armenia, Cambodia, Rwanda or Darfur? Does God care about those enslaved in human trafficking, or about political prisoners who are tortured by dictators? Or about children who die of starvation or preventable disease? The Bible’s answer is a resounding, “Yes!” The biblical prophets repeatedly pronounced God’s judgments on those who abuse and slaughter human beings made in his image. Isaiah foresaw a time when “they shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain.”

Jesus announced the coming of God’s kingdom, declaring that he came to fulfill Isaiah’s prophecy, to bring good news to the poor, the prisoner, the blind and the oppressed. He demonstrated a life of compassion for the vulnerable and challenged the leaders of his day to abandon their hypocrisy. Ultimately, his own undeserved death on the cross opened the way for all people to receive God’s new life and — incredibly — to become partners with him in the restoration of all creation to God’s rightful intent.

When Christians do justice, it speaks loudly about God. It is one of the ways in which we can join Jesus in proclaiming the year of the Lord’s favor.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, by your words and by your life you have shown us the way of justice and righteousness. You demonstrated your care for all who suffer abuse, and you gave your life so that all could be free from oppression, sin and death. Help us to protect the rights of the vulnerable, and to speak up for those who are mistreated. In your holy name, Amen.

Today's audio was narrated by Bri Stensrud: Director, Women of Welcome.