Jesus' Startling Announcement (Luke 4:14-21)

* Early in Jesus' public ministry, he made a startling announcement. Read Luke 4:14-21.

1. What has Jesus come to do?

Background for the Announcement

* Jesus read from "the scroll of the prophet Isaiah." This Scripture was written before the fall of Jerusalem (586 BC), and anticipated the Jews' captivity in Babylon. This prophecy was a message of comfort - the Jews would be released from captivity.
? Why were the Jews in this condition? Why were the Jews removed from the Promised Land and taken away into captivity?

* This historical event (the expulsion of the Jews from the Promised Land) is similar to an earlier "expulsion," which is fundamental to the human condition. To understand Jesus' mission, we must understand this earlier expulsion. What was it?

"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1)

• After creating everything, including the first humans, "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good" (Genesis 1:31).
• God put the first humans in "the Garden of Eden" (Genesis 2:8, 15, 20b-22)
• God gave instructions, and one specific prohibition, to the first man, and told him to obey (Genesis 2:15-17). God warned, "[If you disobey] "you will surely die" (2:17).
• However, man disobeyed God, so "God banished him from the Garden of Eden … he drove the man out" (Genesis 3:23-24a). Man was separated from the "tree of life" (3:24).
• Since this early expulsion, all descendents of the first man (that is, all humans) have been born "outside the Garden" (Romans 5:12; 3:23; 6:23). Thus the "human condition" is fallen and in desperate need of salvation and restoration.

Freedom for the Prisoners (Luke 4:18, John 8:31-36)

1. Who are the "prisoners?"

2. Read John 8:31-36. Who does Jesus say are slaves?

3. How can people be freed? (Read John 8:31-32)

Questions for Personal Reflection
Have you experienced spiritual freedom? If you are a Christian, are you maintaining that sense of spiritual freedom? If not, what do you need to do? (See Romans 6-8)

Recovery of Sight for the Blind (Luke 4:18)\

4. What does it mean that Jesus has come to proclaim recovery of sight for the blind? Who else (besides the physically blind) may the "blind" include?

5. The Christian claims to have spiritual sight. Because of Jesus, this is true! However, the Christian might not always "see well." Why?

Question for Personal Reflection
How is your spiritual vision today?

Good News to the Poor (Luke 4:18)

6. Whom does the "poor" include?

7. In the passage in John 8, do the Pharisees think they are slaves? Then, is Jesus' proclamation of freedom "good news" to them personally?

Personal Reflection & Application
Do you feel spiritually needy? The Bible says all of us are spiritually needy. Do you agree? If so, Jesus has good news for you! Re-read this lesson and think about it.