Freedom From Oppression

Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him. (Luke 4:14-15 NIV)

It's interesting to study the life of Jesus.  His life is filled with stories of fair-weather fans.  When Jesus healed them, fed them, or taught what they liked to hear, they praised him and followed in large crowds.  When he said or did something they did not like, they crucified him.  This was one of his popular times, because he was going to preach a sermon that "common people" would like.  He was going to proclaim good news for us all.

He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: "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." (Luke 4:16-19 NIV)

All too often, I think, we miss this picture.  Christians get a bad rep because we come off as stogie, boring, or even mean spirited.  People associate faith and Christianity with the list of things God says we cannot do.  We are associated with restrictions.  The irony of this, though, is that Scripture doesn't describe us that way.  Those of us who are in Christ have been set free.  In this sermon, Jesus refers to people as prisoners, blind, and oppressed.  Now that Jesus has come, we have been set free from prison and oppression.  The blind have been given sight.  Everything changed when Jesus came.

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. He began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." (Luke 4:20-21 NIV)

How about you?  Do you see Christianity and faith in Christ as limiting and/or oppressive?  Do you see a walk together with God as controlling, restrictive, and a list of things you cannot do?  Or do you see that God has set us free from oppression?  Have you been set free?