In Jesus’ time, everybody was waiting on a “messiah” to rescue them. This person was going to set the Jewish people free of political and religious. There were a few political messiahs, but Jesus tried to do something a bit deeper than those messiahs. Like a bugle call before an epic battle, the message of Jesus was that of liberation from political oppression, religious oppression, and life oppression! Jesus spoke of a God who would not let them walk through life alone, but would comfort His people like a warm blanket fresh out of the dryer.
Those seeking to find freedom by dedicating their lives to following the rules and imposing those rules on others were not liberating anybody. They were not well received when they criticized him and tried to put him under the ultimate oppression, death. What they didn’t realize is Jesus was the ultimate Messiah because He came to liberate us from even death! He accomplished this through resurrection. This means followers of Jesus have nothing to fear: no person, ideology, government or power. There was now a group of people who had concrete evidence death is not the ultimate end, and the followers of this way would be resurrected in due time after their death of natural or unnatural conditions.
Today we still search for the same type of messiah. We search for an escape from our hurts and pains. Look no further than the one person in history who ultimately liberated all from rules, politics, and even death. My Liberator is Jesus. He raises my heart from the depths of depression and hopelessness every day.
What has Jesus liberated you from lately?
