In Luke 4, Jesus stands in the synagogue and reads from the scroll of Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me  to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind,. to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (Luke 4:18-19). Jesus had come to proclaim the year of jubilee. The year of jubilee was a national reset that God commanded Israel to perform every 50 years. Jubilee was to be a time of Sabbath rest, restoration and release. Jubilee was to be a reenactment of the Exodus. It would remind God’s people that God is the Rescuer who completely and permanently frees us and he is the Provider who gives rest to his people. Sadly, there is no biblical evidence that Israel kept the year of Jubilee. For 1500 years Israel had not had a reset, until Jesus proclaimed it that day in the Synagogue. Jesus is the fulfillment of Jubilee. He has come to proclaim good news for the “poor” those facing life’s struggles… those at the end of their rope… those who have been ostracized… those facing sickness, discouragement, hopelessness, shame, moral failure and oppression… those who feel insignificant, worthless, and discontent with life… those whose dreams have died and who have no hope of the future. In other words, this is good news for every one of us who are desperate for change.

Will we experience Jubilee in 2026? It depends on two things: our awareness of our need and our acceptance of Jesus. The truly “poor” and “oppressed” understand their need for help. They are aware of their need for Jesus and humbly admit their need for Jesus to save, heal and deliver them. But they also accept who Jesus is. Who we accept Jesus to be will determine how we treat him (familiarity is the result of proximity without intimacy).

• Do you long for a reset in your life? Can you humbly admit your need for Jesus? After listening to Sunday’s message, what are you aware of in your life that you desperately need Jesus to change in your life?

• Do you ever find yourself becoming “familiar” with Jesus, having proximity without intimacy (remember, your level of obedience to his commands shows if Jesus has become familiar)?  Expound on what the Holy Spirit is telling you.