Jesus quoted from Isaiah and then made an incredible proclamation: “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled before your very ears!”
He was the promised Messiah who came to set people free from sin’s grip and serve as a light in Galilee, healing hearts broken and liberating captives.
Light in Galilee
Isaiah had seen Galilee, in the north of Israel, where wicked leaders like King Ahab and Queen Jezebel led their people in rebellion, rejecting God’s words and eventually being taken captive by Assyrian soldiers.
So when Jesus began His ministry he moved to Galilee, specifically choosing Capernaum by the Sea of Galilee as his base. This move was intentional as He intended to fulfill what had been prophesied by Isaiah.
Jesus traveled throughout Galilee preaching and performing miracles, not particularly caring about pleasing His audience since their acceptance was not the foundation of His success.
Jesus sought to bring light and hope to Galileans through healing miracles performed. For instance, He would often tell hemorrhaging women that their faith had saved them (Luke 8:48). These miracles weren’t simply signs of his power but confirmations of their salvation as well.
Healer of the broken hearted
He healed their hearts after they had been broken and crushed by the words of prophets, according to the Bible. We learn from its pages that God is near those whose spirits have been crushed, providing comfort in times of emotional hardship – many verses exist that deal specifically with this topic in scripture.
Jesus read from Isaiah in Nazareth synagogue and claimed to fulfill it; His claim was met with both praise and scorn from some members, though ultimately they criticized His decision to include non-Israelites such as Elijah and Elisha as part of His ministry.
Jesus then goes to visit Peter and his brothers’ mother who has had a high fever; after Jesus has spoken, He rebukes it and it leaves her, while she continues ministering to them (Luke 4:39). This shows the work of Holy Spirit within Jesus–guiding, filling, and empowering him as He set captives free wherever He went. It demonstrates Jesus was sent by God to set people free from sin-wretchedness and misery of every kind.
Deliverer of captives
Luke 4 records an encounter between Jesus and a woman suffering from fever. After He heals her, she ministers to Him by providing food (Luke 4:39).
Jesus was a great liberator of captives. He came to release poor sinners who were debtors or prisoners of divine justice (Isaiah 58:6), while also proclaiming liberty for oppressed individuals (Luke 4:18).
Jesus could do what He did because He was filled with the Holy Spirit and led by His Father. We, too, are blessed with these attributes as Christians, so when ministering to those suffering spiritual blindness we can say similar words as did Jesus when speaking to Zacchaeus (19:9): Your sins are forgiven! This allows us to proclaim freedom to those enslaved to sin or Satan while healing those in spiritual distress. When ministering to those suffering spiritual blindness we can say what Jesus did when healing paralytics- “Your sins are forgiven”. When ministering we can also tell them just like Zacchaeus: get up and walk! This allows us all – to proclaim freedom while healing those in spiritual darkness while telling them just like Him: Zacchaeus (19:9) that told Zacchaeus to get up and walk as Jesus did when telling him (Zacchaeus 19:9)!
Healer of sinners
Jesus showed great kindness towards sinners, as evidenced by numerous instances, such as when a paralytic was brought before Him and healed despite being told it was due to their sins.
Jesus demonstrated great compassion towards those in spiritual poverty who felt trapped by their sins or oppression of demons; those whom He came to bring freedom.
First-century Palestine Jews were extremely jealous of Jesus. They took offense at what seemed to them like His obvious praise of Gentiles – an apparent compliment that suggested they were particularly favored by God – which seemed to them like blasphemy. Jesus knew their evil thoughts were stirring within them so He said to the Canaanite woman: ‘It is not lawful for you to call down fire from Heaven to consume your daughter!’ as an answer referring to their desire for miracles from Him.
