The Gospel of Luke – Jesus is for everyone: Jesus is Good News
Luke 4:14-30
Jesus returned victorious from the temptations in the wilderness. He returned in the power of the Holy Spirit and using Isaiah 61:1-2 He launched His manifesto of mission. He proclaimed that He was the long awaited Messiah. From Luke 4:18-19 we see that:
- Jesus is Good News to the poor (vs 18) – Jesus says that God has sent Him to proclaim and be Good News. The Good News that Jesus preached is summed up in words like salvation, forgiveness, freedom, release, recovery, restoration, healing and God’s favour and blessing. This is Good News for the poor. God has a special heart for the poor. Jesus spent most of His time with the poor and calls us to do the same today. The Good News of Jesus is that we don’t need to stay poor. We do not need to stay captive to sin. Are you poor? Jesus is Good News to you.
- Jesus is Good News of liberty and freedom (vs 18) – ‘Liberty’ means to release, to cancel, to forgive. God sent Jesus to set people free. He has the power to set the captives free. He has broken the chains so we can be free.
- Jesus is Good News of healing (vs 18) – Part of the very character of God is Jehovah Rapha – the Lord who heals. Jesus never prayed for anyone to be healed. He healed them because He had the authority to heal. His power to heal is the same today.
- Jesus is Good News of God’s favour and blessing (vs 19) – Jesus came to proclaim a new season, a new covenant and a new beginning. He came to proclaim a time of the Lord’s favour. We are still living in that season of God’s favour and blessing. God’s favour is freely available through Jesus. The season will not last forever. When Jesus returns there will be a judgement. Today is the day of salvation and the time to respond to God. God invites us to respond to the Good News of Jesus. Do not leave it until it is too late.