Good morning! How are we faithing? I don't know how you picture things when you read but I'm sure we all have a vivid place that shows up whenever we read the Word. Mine is probably based on things like the movie "Ben Hur" and the "10 commandments". I also try to put myself back in time where there is no phone, no cars, entertainment that isn't live. I picture the homes the people lived in and how they spent their off time. I also picture church and how information is disseminated. Could you imagine the scene at church where this carpenter rolls out a scroll, reads the prophecy, and then says that "today this is fulfilled"? Could you imagine how people reacted? It is so fascinating to think that those people had the messiah standing before them. The scriptures were fulfilled right before their eyes. I wonder if I would have bought it at that time. Would I have been sceptic? I'd bet that a whole lot of observation would have started that day. These were people who were awaiting messiah but also deep in the religious things of the synagogue. Were they so wrapped up in doing right that they had forgot why or for what reason they did right. Were they so wrapped up in getting accolades from fellow men they forgot what the religion was for? Did they even fathom that God was fixin to be approachable and that the whole way they worshipped was about to be revolutionized? Wow man, most were illiterate as we know literacy and relied on just what the Rabi's said and did. Now this man claiming to be God shows up and does things never seen before. The blind see, the mute speak, the deaf hear, the dead walk, healings abound and the leaders of the church are ticked. This man speaks of peace instead of retribution. He speaks of love in a way that has never been spoken of before. He offers payment for MY sins and YOURS too! Wow man, to be a fly on the wall at the watering holes and listen to the conversations....

Isa 61:1-2
The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor
NIV

Luke 4:16-21
He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. 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 preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
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, and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."
NIV

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the minds eye you gave us all. Thank you for enabling us to think and to see things in your Word. Lord we ask for wisdom and courage to face each day with resolve to stand tall regardless of the circumstances.  We ask for your touch on our bodies so we may be strong to do your will. Lord, teach us to be an example of your grace and love in Jesus name we pray, amen