Isaiah 61:1-2 – 1The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God;
Luke 4:19 – 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”
Favor = unmerited blessings
Year of the Lord’s favor describes both the Jubilee year of release and the year of justice during the 1st or 2nd year of reign of a new King
Jesus as the King of the Kingdom of God usher in the Year of release for all who receives Him
2. Proclamation of liberty of release of debts
Release from the debtor’s prison of all who could not pay their debts
Matthew 18:34 – 34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.
Jesus came to set us free from bondages we could not free ourselves from by mere exercising of our will
3. Restoration of inheritances
Inheritances which were lost due to sin
Our identity and value as human being created in the image of God
For the Jews as the chosen people
What the enemy has stolen from us through sins
4. Cessation from work
We need not work to gain God’s acceptance and favour; God Himself took the initiative to receive us
Grace enters into the lives of all those who receive Jesus; Grace vs Legalism
The work of Jesus is sufficient for us; He contains all that we need