When you offer a homeless person hope in Jesus Christ–talking about someone who is in that situation because of substance abuse and all the wrong choices, the answer most would give is “It’s too late for me.” However, it is one’s hope in Jesus Christ that propels one to carry on amidst all the dire circumstances.
On this Resurrection Sunday, let us take the opportunity to remember that Jesus made this hope available to anyone who wants to take hold of it.
“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,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
Luke 4:18-21 NIV
Which prophecy did He fulfill?
“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,”
Isaiah 61:1 NIV
He fulfills prophecy because it originated from Him and He keeps His word.
“For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”
2 Peter 1:21 NIV
“Let this be written for a future generation,
that a people not yet created may praise the LORD:
19 “The LORD looked down from his sanctuary on high,
from heaven he viewed the earth,
20 to hear the groans of the prisoners
and release those condemned to death.”
21 So the name of the LORD will be declared in Zion
and his praise in Jerusalem
22 when the peoples and the kingdoms
assemble to worship the LORD.
Psalm 102:18-22 NIV
when the peoples and the kingdoms
assemble to worship the LORD – As people all over the world are doing this very day.
From a distance, I wasn’t quite sure which bird it was that was soaring effortlessly. I usually just look for cute small birds but this eagle naturally wanted to enjoy the occasionally blue sky that day.
“He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.“
Isaiah 40:29-31 NIV