When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to set free those who are oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.
In Luke 4:16-19, Jesus returns home and takes his turn reading in the synagogue. It isn’t clear whether he chose the words of they were the assigned reading for the day, but regardless, he reads from Isaiah 61. When he finished, the people who remembered Jesus as a child were amazed by him.
But not for long.
At first, his listeners must have puffed out their chests a little thinking about how they, as God’s special people, had been so blessed by YHWH, this prophet reminding them of their privilege as the chosen nation.
But then he went there…
This good news is not just for them, but for everyone. Elijah was only sent to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. Only Naaman the Syrian was cleansed. Release to the captives, recovery of sight, freedom for the oppressed, they are for everyone. God’s favor is meant for all of humanity.
Rather than rejoice in YHWH’s expansive love, they were furious about their loss of privilege. They went from praising him to attempting to kill him. And for what? Because Jesus wanted to extend grace and mercy to people not like them, those not included in their special group.
Loss of privilege often brings about fear and anger in those who feel threatened, but not Jesus. Jesus willingly gives away privilege, time and time again, both in word and deed.
There is no retribution in Jesus’ message and ministry, except for the religious insiders who exclude the other. There is no anger in Jesus’ message and ministry, except for the ones who take advantage of the disadvantaged. Jesus’ entire ministry is about welcoming the stranger, loving the alien, and healing the marginalized.
Maybe instead of a Project 2025, we need a Project 6112. Jesus didn’t show up on the scene with a plan to imprison, blind, and oppress. His project, his ministry, was to release, recover, and free.
Yes, we are a nation of laws, but I believe laws should always be imbued with love. Laws exist to protect, not suppress. Even when we hold someone accountable, love should still be present. When laws are enforced with hatred, retribution, and retaliation, no one wins, and our world grows a little darker.
A real jubilee is not about parading our power. A real jubilee occurs when love leads, mercy flows, and grace is available for all. Those are true Christian values.
Breaking Into Peace 