Proclaiming Liberty to the Captives
Today is Juneteenth. If you are not familiar with the holiday, check out the history here. Briefly:
- The Emancipation Proclamation became effective 1 January, 1863.
- It set all of the slaves in all of the seceeding states free. This is the transcript.
- All those slaves were free in spirit, but not in reality. Most of them couldn't read and had no idea what the Emancipation Proclamation was.
- The Civil War ended on April 9, 1865.
- Over TWO MONTHS LATER, on June 19, 1865, American troops entered the city of Galveston, TX and proclaimed liberty to the slaves. Imagine the rejoicing!
- They, and the other freed slaves in Texas, have celebrated Juneteenth ever since.
I am happy to celebrate this holiday and it got me thinking today about freedom in Christ. In the Gospels, Jesus returns home to Nazareth and reads the Torah portion for that Sabbath. It is Isaiah 61. Verse 1 says:
The Spirit of the Lord God is on Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners;
He tells those in attendance that this passage is fulfilled that day. I highlighted the last part because it's what I was thinking about today. Let's consider:
- When Jesus died and was raised again, He set everyone free from their slavery and restored their relationship with Yahweh. Indeed, it was an Emancipation Proclamantion for all people in all time.
- Sadly, not everyone has heard the news. WE are the Army of God bringing the message that the captives are at liberty and the prisoners are free.
I celebrate freedom from earthly slavery, but I celebrate even more the eternal freedom we have in Christ. It is my hope that we, His Warriors, will be seen as those who are setting the captives free...just like Jesus!
SONGS FOR SUNDAY
Seek First
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UTvyDoy8C0
How Great Thou Art
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjWZz90hj4I
King of My Heart
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbBQ94PZEkE
Raise A Hallelujah
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2XtRuPfaAU
...and we are learning
Yet Not I But Christ In Me