Proclaim the Year of the Lord's Favor

In Luke 4 we read that Jesus stood up in the temple and quoted Isaiah 61:1,2a, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Christ was declaring that His coming was the fulfillment of this prophecy concerning the year of Jubilee which was to be a time of forgiveness and healing. It was to be a time when a person would care more for the other person than for their own financial well-being. It was a time of sacrifice and giving.

When Christ proclaimed the Year of the Lord’s favor He emphasized the forgiveness of sins. He promised eternal life for all who would believe regardless of background or history. And as His body, this is our message today because we have been sent by Christ, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so send I you" John 20:21.

And when Christ preached the year of the Lord’s favor, He lived the elements of the Year of Jubilee. He responded to human suffering, He loved and served those in need, He sacrificed himself for others. The church today must realize the foundational message of salvation cannot be preached without love and sacrifice.

When the Needs of the world are great, then Christian Compassion must be greater. We see the great needs of this world, but our prayer is not Lord end the suffering, it is Lord send me to be a part of your plan to end suffering.  Many times, our response is, of course I care for the poor and vulnerable.” But the question is do you know their names?

My prayer for our church in 2026 is that we will declare the Year of the Lord’s favor. That we will share the Gospel to all people. That we will be the body of Christ continuing His earthly ministry. Let’s proclaim together the year of the Lord’s favor.