When Jesus arrived in Nazareth, he was brought up to the synagogue on Sabbath day, as was his custom, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. It read:
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 14:18-19 NRSV)
The passage from Isaiah was important to Jesus as it summarized his aims for society in it. Jesus announced it as his program. Jesus promised that his aims would be realized: good news to the poor, freedom for the captive, and healing and restoration for the blind. Walter Rauschenbusch notes, “Social and religious emancipation are woven together in these phrases. Plainly Jesus saw his mission in raising to free and full life those whom life had held down and hurt.” Jesus said, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you” (John 20:21 NRSV). Rauschenbusch asks us, “Must the platform of Jesus be our platform and program?”
How have we lived our lives helping the poor, releasing people from bondage, giving sight to those who cannot see, and freedom for the oppressed? More importantly, are we the ones who are stealing from the poor, putting them in bondage, deceiving them, and oppressing further those who are already oppressed? What role have we taken on in our society? Again, have we taken on Christ’s platform for our lives or have we not?
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How have you taken on Christ’s social platform?