433. LUK 4:19. THE GOSPEL ERA TYPIFIED BY THE YEAR OF JUBILEE

Luk_4:19. The Gospel Era Typified By The Year Of Jubilee

"To preach the acceptable year of the Lord"’97Luk_4:19

The Saviour had just returned from his baptism and consecration to his great mission. Entering into the synagogue at Nazareth, there was given unto him the roll of Isaiah, from which he read a portion of that prophecy, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me," &c., Isa_61:1, &c. This beautiful passage was appropriated to himself, and therein he taught the people, that he was in truth the long-predicted and long-expected Messiah. The last sentence of the scripture which he quoted, evidently refers to the year of jubilee, and thus he gives to the era of the gospel the direct application of that celebrated and joyous season. Let us contemplate the year of jubilee, so that we may discover the most striking typical features which it presented.

I. The Year of Jubilee was appointed as a period of Mercy and Joy to the Afflicted and Poor of the People of Israel.

This was evidently its broad and comprehensive character. Such evidently is the gospel era, a period of the full revelation of the mercy and love of God to our world. A year of glad tidings, and of great joy to all people. Its great design and end, is the well-being and happiness of the human race.

II. The Year of Jubilee was a Period fixed and appointed by God.

God directed that they "should hallow the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout all the land, unto all the inhabitants thereof; it shall be a jubilee to you," Lev_25:10, &c. Thus God fixed and appointed the gospel dispensation, and to it the prophets bare witness; to this day of salvation Abraham looked, and for it kings waited; and John at length, as the immediate herald of Christ, announced the approach of the jubilee, or gracious reign of the Son of God.

III. The Year of Jubilee was ushered in on the great Day of Atonement.

This was the most sacred day in the Jewish calendar. On this day a bullock was slain as a sin-offering, a ram as a burnt-offering, and the scapegoat symbolically bare away the sins of the people On this day the mercy-seat was sprinkled And the priest in the holiest place inter ceded for the people, and then came forth to bless them in the name of the Lord. Now the whole of these services had a distinct reference to the death and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. They had no virtue or value but as they typified the atonement made by Christ. And that atonement is the basis of the gospel dispensation. There can be no tidings of mercy and salvation to the sinner but through the death of the Lord Jesus Christ. "Thus it was written and thus it behooved Christ to suffer," &c., Luk_24:46.

IV. The Jubilee was announced with Trumpets and with Acclamations of great Joy.

The trumpet was to sound to all the people throughout the land. To this doubtless the psalmist refers, when he says, "Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound," Psa_89:15. Thus was the gospel introduced into our world. Angels from heaven sang with rapture, while they announced the birth of the Saviour of man. Jesus and his disciples went everywhere through the land, proclaiming peace and joy to the people. And the Christian ministry is designed to convey the lifegiving sound through all the world, and to every creature.

V. The Jubilee conferred great Privileges and Blessings on the People.

1. It was associated with abundant provision.

The promise was, "that the land should bear fruit," and that they should "eat their fill, and dwell in safety," Lev_25:19. Now the gospel era is one of overflowing plenty. It is compared to a great supper. To a royal feast. See Isa_26:6-8; Mat_22:1-4.

2. It proclaimed liberty to captives and the opening of the prison doors to those that were bound.

The bond-servant was now free, and universal liberty prevailed through all the land, Lev_25:39. The gospel also makes known to the slaves of sin and the captives of the wicked one, emancipation and freedom. O yes, Jesus frees all who come to him from the galling yoke of hellish bondage, and introduces them into the liberty of the sons of God. Whom the Son makes free, they are free indeed. See Rom_6:22.

3. It provided for the remission of debts.

Those who were waxen poor, and could not pay their creditors, were on this year, to be discharged from the obligation. Now his is the great blessing announced in the gospel, "Forgiveness of sin." Jesus came to forgive sin. He freely forgave every earnest applicant in the days of his flesh And he is exalted a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance and remission of sin Act_13:38; Luk_24:47.

4. It restored forfeited possessions.

Estates and possessions mortgaged now returned to their original owners. See Lev_25:23, Lev_25:24. Here again we behold the clear application to the design and spirit of the gospel. It announces to us the restoration of all we have lost through the introduction of sin into our world. Or rather it gives us more precious and abiding blessings in their place.

"In Christ the tribes of Adam boast,

More blessings than their father lost."

We regain the love and favor of God, the fountain of every other blessing. We regain our sonship and likeness to God. We regain a heavenly renewed nature. We regain a title to glory, and honor, and riches, and dominion, in the heavenly paradise. We become "heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ," Rom_8:17. Oh the grandeur, the sublimity, the eternity of the inheritance which is made known to us in the gospel!

5. The year of jubilee was one of freedom from toil.

It was a year of festivity and rest, Lev_25:11, Lev_25:12. The land overflowed with plenty, and richly spread its fulness before all the people. Such is the gospel dispensation. A period wherein the graciousness of God is richly seen, in the fulness and freeness of the promises of his love. No painful rites, no tedious ablutions, no expensive sacrifices, no heavy yoke of observances, all the institutions of the gospel are easy, simple, gratuitous, and gracious. "The law (with all its ceremonies) was given by Moses," but "grace and truth came by Jesus Christ."

Application

1. Learn the privileges and blessings of that dispensation under which we live.

2. The importance of a personal and practical improvement of them.

3. Despisers must necessarily be miserable, and finally perish.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS