When one reads this particular passage it is important to put the passage in context with what happened prior and even to what Luke has to say in Luke 6 when he shares the sermon on the plains. The previous passage has Jesus coming to his home town to worship in the synagogue. While there he either is chosen or chooses to read from the scroll of Isaiah. "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor (Luke 4:18-19.)" When Isaiah wrote these words, Judah was enslaved by Babylon. The prophet was offering a word of hope in the salvation of God to release them from their bondage.
Jesus starts the next passage with the imperative Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing. This is something that did not just happen 500 years ago but is happening with Jesus and even if we take it to today even now. Wherever we look there are still people who are in bondage whether economic, social, oppression, spiritual. People are still looking for the Year of Jubilee. Certainly in Jesus' time the people were once again oppressed by Rome. So no wonder their first impression was amazement of the words of grace. I think of the first time when I realized that God so loved me that Jesus came to save me from my bondage to sin. I was amazed that God would do such a thing. Where it becomes more difficult and I am certain that it was true with the original listeners, was that this grace was for all people and creation. Maybe that is where the change of attitude came from Jesus and the people. He realized they were not getting it. It wasn't just them that he came for but for the world.
Maybe as Jesus challenged their sense of superiority that infuriated them the most. Especially with the sermon illustrations that he used to make his point. A widow who was not part of the community and a general of an enemy. In the commentary that I was reading Peter Eaton quoted Peter Gomes, "The Scandalous Gospel of Jesus, What is the good news about the good news", "the people take offense not so much about what Jesus claims about himself, as with the claims that he makes about a God who is more than their own tribal deity (39)."
Today maybe what is difficult about this passage as we reflect on this and especially when we look at the emphasis that Luke makes on God's promises to the marginalized, outcasts, dispossessed, and poor, it can continue to challenge our sense of who God is. Sometimes it is easy to make God my personal god without considering that God is God of all. Jesus reminds us that we are to care for those who are searching for the day of Jubilee in their lives as well as ours. That we are called now today not some day to reach out to those who are hungry and thirsty not just for food and water but also for the good news.
