"The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me...to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." Luke 4:18-19 (NKJV), my emphasis is in italics
In case you're unaware, the current year is 2025 and we're now roughly a month and a half into it. If you're anything like me, you might be wondering: "How are we in February?"
Needless to say, since January 1, Luke 4:18-19 has been stirring in my heart. For most of January, I prayed through it, processed it, contemplated it, and even did as Jesus does in the text, and proclaimed it to our church family.
But what exactly is the acceptable year of the Lord?
For Jesus' audience, at least two thoughts would've surfaced:
The context of Luke 4 is clear: Jesus is in a public worship service. Luke, the gospel writer, takes it a step further and lets us know that that's Jesus' custom. Jesus is in the habit of engaging in public worship services. Jesus regularly sings, lifts His hands, and listens to teaching alongside others. Perhaps that's why the synagogue leaders trust Him with a platform and a microphone. The Bible says that Jesus is invited to read aloud; and, interestingly enough, He chooses Isaiah 61.
As He wraps up the reading, Jesus takes a seat, and begins telling those sitting near Him: "Today, the Scripture is fulfilled in Your hearing (Luke 4:21)." While you and I might not think too much of it, to that group, an already existent tension tightens. The plot thickens. Luke 4:21 and a couple other statements nearly cost Jesus His life.
Why?
700 years before Christ, Isaiah describes a Messiah who would come to Israel's rescue. Some characteristics of his prophecy is "liberty to the captives," and "liberty to the oppressed." At this particular point in history, the Jews are under Roman rule. They're not free to govern themselves or their own affairs. From their perspective, the Jews are captive and oppressed.
Similar to the coming of the Messiah, Jubilee is an extravagant, long-awaited event. Based on Mosaic law, Jubilee is to be observed every 50 years by God's people. During that time, three actions transpire:
Debts are forgiven;
Slaves are freed; and
Land is returned to original owners.
Jubilee is an Old Testament calendar date that rights every wrong - not just for individuals, but for their whole family, for generations. Jubilee offers a generational - or sustainable and transferrable - blessing. Specifically with land returning to owners, it guarantees the inheritance of flocks, finances, and a father's verbal blessing. To Jesus' Hebrew audience, these things are invaluable.
Though the direct quote may be Isaiah, "the acceptable year of the Lord" is a reference to Jubilee. When Jesus says, "the Scripture is fulfilled," He announces Himself as the fulfillment of both passages.
What does that have to do with 2025?
Jesus is the Messiah and He's our Jubilee.
It's been almost 2000 years since Jesus walked the earth in His physical body. It's been over 2000 years since Jesus quoted Isaiah and referenced Jubilee; yet His presence and His proclamations have stood the test of time. Jesus is still the One who forgives debts, sets captives free, and rights the wrongs; and there's no indication to suggest that He's ceased from any of that.
As we finish February 2025, I'm believing for the rest of this year to be filled with Jesus, the Messiah and Jubilee. However, I'm also convinced and personally contending that until Jesus returns, every day of every year will be filled with Jesus, the Messiah and Jubilee.
Jesus is God's overwhelming favor, incredible forgiveness, and extraordinary freedom.
He was in Luke's day and He is in ours.
Let's take Him at His word!
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