Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.
Our Gospel reading this third week in Epiphany is a bold revelation of Jesus. Here, in the synagogue, Jesus reads the words of Isaiah where God proclaims the day of salvation. Jesus then boldly says that this word is fulfilled in him. What is Jesus saying here?
How did the people who heard him respond? They understood Jesus to be claiming that he had divine authority to forgive sin, to set captives free, and deliver God’s free grace. They understood that Jesus was saying he had the power and authority of God. They understood this so very well that they tried to execute him for making himself out to be God.
What did Jesus do in this instance? He continued to show his divine power, first by his proclamation, then by keeping the people from throwing him off a cliff. He continued then to proclaim the day of deliverance from God. He healed the sick. He cleansed the lepers. He gave sight to the blind. He raised the dead. He took the sins of the world onto himself, died the death we deserve, then rose from the dead as the firstfruits of the resurrection.
May this same Jesus, the risen Lord, reign in our hearts and minds, proclaiming the day of salvation to each of us. This is the day of salvation. God’s Word is fulfilled in Jesus.
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