All around us, people are being held captive. Their prisons might be the ones they have constructed themselves, but they are still captives nonetheless.
In Luke 4:18-19 Jesus read the passage from Isaiah, which said in part, “He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives. . . to set at liberty those who are oppressed.” Then, to the amazement of those in the synagogue that day, Jesus said, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing” (verse 21).
In today’s text, we find Jesus setting three captives free.
- A girl bound by Satan is set free, vv. 16-18.
- A jailer bound by sin is set free, vv. 19-34.
- The missionaries bound by shackles are set free, vv. 35-40.
“You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32) still rings true today.
