What have you been listening to?
The 21st century is very noisy, with lots of loud voices vying for attention. Here are a few examples of ads, headlines, politicians, gurus, and others that shout at us:
- “5 ways to become the best parent you can be”
- “Skipping breakfast: Researchers say missing meal may help lose weight”
- “Declutter your way towards a simpler minimalistic life!”
- “Back at work? Start planning your next holiday”
- “It’s time to stand up for change in Australia”
If you listen carefully, each of these voices has an “ought” or a “must” attached to it; something you supposedly “need” to do. In theological terms we call this “the law.” The devil and the world are experts of the law. They want to weigh you down with “oughts” and “musts” and things to do, to place heavy burdens on you, to bind you as their captive prisoner.
Hearing Jesus
In our gospel reading (Luke 4:14–21) Jesus preaches his first sermon. Like all the other voices we hear, we might expect Jesus to preach a bunch of “oughts,” to tell us what we “must” do. But instead his very short sermon simply quotes a few Old Testament verses (Isaiah 61:1,2 and 58:6), he then sits down among the congregation and adds one sentence. A one sentence sermon sounds nice, doesn’t it?!
The Spirit of the Lord is on me, Isaiah 61:1a
because he has anointed me Isaiah 61:1b
to proclaim good news to the poor. Isaiah 61:1c
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners Isaiah 61:1e
and recovery of sight for the blind, Isaiah 61:1f
to set the oppressed free, Isaiah 58:6d
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour. Isaiah 61:2a
Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing. Luke 4:21
That’s it. That’s all Jesus says. Jesus doesn’t tell the people what they should do. He doesn’t give them a bunch of rules to follow. He doesn’t tell them what God expects. How can Jesus fulfil scripture with these few words?
I think an illustration can help. Imagine a man who stole millions of dollars from his employer. He’s been locked up in jail for 10 years. Every moment of every day is dictated by the rules of the prison. He must go to the toilet at 7am. He must eat what the refectory serves. He must have lights out at 10pm. Then suddenly a man walks into his cell. He looks at the prisoner with compassion and says, “I’ve paid your debt. You are free.” With just seven words, this saviour has changed the life of the prisoner forever. He is free from all the rules and “musts.”
This saviour freed the prisoner by paying the debt and then speaking a few words. Likewise, Jesus pays our debt on the cross, and speaks just a few words to set us free, to change our lives forever.
Hearing Jesus today
Scripture wasn’t just fulfilled 2,000 years ago when Jesus stood in that synagogue in Galilee. Scripture is fulfilled today, when you hear Jesus speak to you. Right now through these words, God is setting you free from the things that bind you and make you captive. The “musts” and “oughts” which burden you are lifted. There is nothing you “must” do. There is nothing you “ought” to do. In fact there is nothing you can do. For Jesus has come to proclaim this good news to the poor; the poor are those with empty hands. Jesus has done everything for you. He declares, “I have paid your debt. You are free. You are forgiven. You are no longer a prisoner.”
This week I came across an interesting article about mobile phone use in teenagers, which illustrates some of the “oughts” and “musts” our world can burden young people with at the moment:
‘My daughter is 16 and like all teens deals with social drama and ups and downs. I want her to have a [mobile] phone for safety, but last year I began to realize that she was using it for much more than that. She was staying up late at night texting and on social media. … My husband and I decided it was time for us to start putting her device in our room at bedtime. I honestly had no idea how much this decision would impact her. After she blew up in anger, she began sobbing and puddled on the floor. … She shared all her social circle drama, the comments on social media she had to keep up with, the sleep overs and parties she saw that she knew she wasn’t invited to. … As I held her, I just listened. Listened to all the worries and fears of fitting in and keeping up, but there was something even more alarming keeping her up at night… My daughter had been counselling another teen late at night who [had mental health issues.] Her huge heart had been on high alert. She had to stay up and be available at all times “in case” her friend needed her. … My teen was relieved when we talked through how to break the silence and get her friend help, real help, and that it wasn’t my daughter’s responsibility to carry that burden, especially not alone. Together we came up with a plan to involve adults who can support her friend. … After the dust settled and we stuck to our new “no phone at bedtime” rule, I was amazed at the changes we saw. I could tell that my girl was so relieved!’ [1]
Did you hear all the “oughts” and “musts” the world had placed on this girl? And the change that occurred when they were lifted?
Is there something holding you captive at the moment? Has the world bewitched you by placing heavy burdens which you “must” carry? Is there an expectation someone has placed on you — something you “need” to do, or a person you “ought” to be? Jesus wants to lift these burdens from you and set you free. He says to you, “You are free.”
The problem of freedom
Now this freedom we have in Jesus is amazing! But there are two problems it can bring for followers of Jesus.
(1) We can so easily lose our freedom. It’s all too easy to add laws and demands to the gospel. But when we do this, we once again place chains on ourselves (or others).
The Christians in the early church at Galatia suffered this problem. They had been set free in Jesus, but then a group, known as the ‘circumcision party,’ tried to place new demands on them. To the non-Jewish Christians they said, “You ought to follow the Jewish customs and be circumcised.” Did you hear the shackles shutting closed? “You ought …” St Paul was frustrated to hear these burdens being re-added. “You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?” (Galatians 3:1).
These burdens and chains still exist in the church today. Some Pentecostals falsely claim, “All Christians should speak in tongues.” Others say, “You need to be baptised as an adult.” Or “we ought to worship in such and such way.” Can you hear the chains?
The gospel always frees from burdens. There is no “ought” or “should” or “must” or “need to.” Rather Jesus says, “You are free. I have done everything necessary for you. All that’s left is for you to hear. And in your hearing scripture is fulfilled today, and I make you free.” Or as St Paul said to the Galatian church, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1).
(2) We can abuse our freedom. In Christ we are utterly and completely free. Let that sink in. Everything is permissible! Yet numerous times in the early church the new Christians had to be cautioned to use their freedom wisely. St Paul wrote to Corinth, “‘Everything is permissible,’ but not everything is beneficial.” (1 Corinthians 6:23). Similarly he wrote to the Galatians, “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” (Galatians 5:13). The freedom Jesus offers is a wonderful gift, but we are called to use our freedom in loving service to others.
Blessing
The good news is that Jesus has been anointed with the Spirit of the Lord to proclaim freedom to prisoners and set the captive free. All those things chaining and binding you have been broken. You are free. Free from pleasing people. Free from the demands of others. Free from meeting the world’s expectations. Free to be the person God created you to be. And you don’t need to do anything, just hear this good news, because Jesus has done everything for you on the cross. Scripture has been fulfilled.
So may you live as a prisoner who has been set free, who walks dazed into the sunlight after years locked in a dark cell. May you tell your family, friends, and neighbours that we are no longer slaves to the world’s demands — “musts” and “oughts” no longer burden us. May you use your freedom to hear more about this God-man Jesus who releases your burdens just by speaking a few words. May you use your freedom to give your life in thanks and praise for all that he has done. May you freely serve one another humbly in love. Amen.
[1] https://www.westartnow.org/blog/2019/1/13/we-put-her-phone-to-bed-and-were-shocked-by-what-she-said
