Still the Same

I suppose this particular Sabbath was much like any other as the young man stood to take the scroll.  After all, the Sabbath had been mandated and practiced over the centuries with an order of events filled with symbolism.  Friends and neighbors gathered to re-orient themselves to God and what He was doing.  It was a God-given day to set aside their work and to rest. 

The greetings this morning reflected the close community life they shared in the village…the joys and sorrows, the births and deaths, the hopes and disappointments.  As at every Sabbath they would read, sing, teach and pray.  In the back of their minds they held out steadfast hope for the coming of the Messiah. 

This day Jesus showed up, which wasn’t so unusual.  After all he had grown up in their hometown and had attended synagogue with his mother and father for years.  Today however would be different. 

Jesus took the scroll handed to Him.  Like all other biblical scrolls, it had been meticulously copied by strict rules in order to preserve its accuracy.  It was God’s Word to His people and was respectfully honored. 

He found the place he wanted in Isaiah and read.  א  רוּחַ אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה, עָלָי--יַעַן מָשַׁח יְהוָה אֹתִי לְבַשֵּׂר עֲנָוִים, שְׁלָחַנִי לַחֲבֹשׁ לְנִשְׁבְּרֵי-לֵב, לִקְרֹא לִשְׁבוּיִם דְּרוֹר, וְלַאֲסוּרִים פְּקַח-קוֹחַ. “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.”

The reading captured their attention.  All eyes were on Him as He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant and sat down to comment.  After a momentary lull the next words took them by surprise, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”   

The implications were revolutionary.  He was the Messiah and had come to deal with the enormous problems afflicting humanity.  Whether in the physical sense or the spiritual sense He could rescue from poverty, sorrow, bondage, suffering and oppression.

In our day, for you and me, He is still the same.  Granted we live in at different time but eternal issues are still concerned with it.  In Christ we lay hold of things unseen…good news, freedom, recovery and favor.