Let's have come Good News!

Let’s have some good news! This has been the heart cry of people for a long time. It was true in Isaiah’s day; it was true in the days of Jesus. Isaiah had a long-range perspective of the human condition. There was a need for a major intervention into the human story. With this in mind he wrote these words: 

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,
to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor. Isaiah 61:1-2

Many of us recognize these words as the word Jesus read in his first public appearance at a synagogue in Capernaum, recorded in St. Luke’s Gospel. Jesus said following the reading, “Today these words are fulfilled in your presence.” Notice what Jesus said he came to do and who would be the recipients of his ministry. Jesus’ work and ministry has always upset the apple cart. Jesus came for the least likely to be society’s favorites. Feeling a bit like you have been kicked to the curb lately? Jesus came to find you. – Ron Friesen