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Week:04, Season:1,
2013
Posted on Saturday by PCT
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In release, in light, in freedom
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Scripture：《
Luke 4:14-21
》
4：14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about. 15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all. 16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. 17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, 18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. 20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
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14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. 15 He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him. 16 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, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: 18 ‘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 favour.’ 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.’
2000 years ago, when Jesus started his work of preaching in Galilee, he proclaimed, “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 favour.” Then He said, ‘Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.’
In release
The Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom Hashoah was inaugurated by the Congress of Israel in 1953 and held on the 27th of Nisan (Jewish calendar). On Yom Hashoah, sirens are sounded throughout Israel. People stop all activities, cars stop and drivers emerge from them for a two minutes’ standstill as people pay silent tribute to the dead. All the national TV channels and radio stations broadcast a history of the Jews in World War II and survivors are interviewed. On this day, no places of public entertainment places are open. All theatres, cinemas, bars and public places are closed. Even though many Orthodox Jewish rabbis and Jewish rabbis never officially recognise this Remembrance Day, there is no voice of objection. All religious activities in the Synagogues happen as usual.
27 January, 1945 was the darkest day of human history. It was the day that the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland was released by the allies led by the Soviet Union. The soldiers found a massive amount of dead bodies and remnants of death accompanied by many emaciated dying survivors. Inside the camp storage, hair cut from the dead weighed up to 7 tons.
60 years later, the United Nations General Assembly resolution 60/7 on 1 November 2005 during the plenary session set 27 January as “International Holocaust Remembrance Day” in remembrance of the victims of the Holocaust, the genocide that resulted in the annihilation of 6 million Jews by Hitler. Survivors from the concentration camp receive comfort and support. This day reminds all human beings that the tyranny during Nazi forever exists in history. All of us should remember this lesson and take responsibility, remembering history and morality, to stop racism and crimes against humanity.
Has the “release” in the Bible passage we read today been fulfilled?
In light
We live in a world relying on the fast-changing World Wide Web. Can you imagine how our world would be if we did not have electricity?
On 27 January 1880, after many experiments with platinum and other metal filaments, Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931) invented the carbon filament lamp which was capable of giving light for 45 consecutive hours. Edison continued to improve his breakthrough design and invented a carbonized bamboo filament lamp which could last over 1200 hours. Edison did not stop trying new experiments. In order to popularise his lamp invention, he studied circuits, fuses, insulators, copper wire and other electrical systems and aimed to create stable and economic power generators. Three years later, work began on a power station in New York City and electricity spread throughout the network to make New York City the first city to have electric lighting. The persistence of Edison greatly improved human life. An era of light began from there.
Has the “light” in the Bible passage we read today been fulfilled?
In freedom
Thanks to Edison the torch of the Statue of Liberty is lit. When Edison passed away, the torch of the Statue of Liberty was turned off to remember him.
The Statue of Liberty was given to Americans by advocator of freedom, the French in 1886. At the foot of this statue is a poem from Emma Lazarus (1849-1887), “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” We can see that people living in the United States in the 19th century advocated freedom.
In the three billion population of the US, over 40% of the population were immigrated to this land during 1892-1954 to avoid religious prosecution, political oppression and poor life. They were longing for a new life of freedom. From the Civil War in the US, to the fight for freedom of black people led by Martin Luther King (1929-1968), to 9 11 attacks in 2001, the Statue of Liberty was still standing there to proclaim the spirit of this free land of new immigrants.
Has the “freedom” in the Bible passage we read today been fulfilled?
In promise
The promise for release, for light and for freedom is not controlled by historical events but lies in the hands of the invisible God who controls our history. The Spirit of the Lord was with the Prophet Isaiah 2700 years ago and was with Jesus 2000 years ago. His Spirit was with the missionaries, James Laidlaw Maxwell and Dr George Leslie Mackay 140 years ago. The Spirit of the Lord is also with religious pioneers who love Taiwan. The Spirit of the Lord will continue to be with us and those who are chosen to proclaim the gospel to the captives, the blind and the oppressed.
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For discussion：
1. Who are the captives, the blind, and the oppressed in Taiwan today?
2. What good news can you bring to these people needing to be saved by God?
Please pray for：
1. For the massacres which happened in history. Reflect on those who died and the perpetrators and pray to God for forgiveness.
2. For those who seek freedom. May they find the Spirit of the Lord and gain the true freedom.
Prayer：
Ruler Lord of history, may your Spirit be with me; may you call me to proclaim good news to the poor. May you send me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to set the oppressed free. To proclaim that Jesus Christ can save all his people and the year of the Lord’s favour will be with them. In the name of Christ, Amen.
Something you can do：
1. Share the story and the lessons of the Nazi concentration camps with your children or children at Sunday school.
2. Share one thing you think that Taiwan needs with a foreign friend you know.
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