Basic HTML Version
136
From Heaven With Love
To set at liberty them that are bruised,
To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
“And He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and
sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him...
. And all spoke well of Him, and wondered at the gracious words
which proceeded out of His mouth.” RSV.
Explaining the words He had read, Jesus spoke of the Messiah
as a reliever of the oppressed, a healer of the afflicted, restoring sight
to the blind, and revealing the light of truth. The wonderful import
of His words thrilled the hearers with a power they had never felt
before. The tide of divine influence broke every barrier down. As
their hearts were moved by the Holy Spirit, they responded with
fervent amens and praises to the Lord.
But when Jesus announced, “This day is this scripture fulfilled
in your ears,” they were suddenly recalled to think of the claims of
Him who had been addressing them. They, children of Abraham,
had been represented as being in bondage, prisoners to be delivered
from the power of evil, in darkness, and needing the light of truth.
Their pride was offended. Jesus’ work for them was to be altogether
different from what they desired. Their deeds might be investigated
too closely. They shrank from inspection by those clear, searching
eyes.
Who is this Jesus? they questioned. He who had claimed the
glory of the Messiah was the son of a carpenter. They had seen
Him toiling up and down the hills. They were acquainted with
His brothers and sisters, and knew His life and labors. They had
seen Him develop from childhood to manhood. Although His life
had been spotless, they would not believe He was the Promised
One. They opened the door to doubt, and their hearts became harder
[152]
for having been momentarily softened. With intense energy Satan
worked to fasten them in unbelief.
They had been stirred by the conviction that it was their Re-
deemer who addressed them. But Jesus now gave them evidence
of His divinity by revealing their secret thoughts. “No prophet is
acceptable in his own country. But in truth, I tell you, there were
many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was
shut up three years and six months, when there came a great famine