After Jesus’ baptism, the Spirit led him into Judea’s wilderness. Here, he would go toe to toe with Satan. Without hesitation, Jesus fasted forty days and nights. But surely, he felt exhaustion, plus loneliness to the bone. As Satan noticed Jesus’ fatigue, he fired his best shot. Yet, Jesus came out on top. Paraphrasing Charles Spurgeon’s, ‘it’s when you are in God’s will that Satan shows up to mow you down.'

Leaving the arid desert, Jesus returned to his hometown of Nazareth. The following Sabbath, he walked inside the Synagogue to read Scripture. I’m guessing that His heart must have burst with compassion as He read Isaiah’s prophecy, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me to release captives and free prisoners” (Isa 61:1a). Afterward, He sat down and proclaimed to be the ‘Fulfiller’ of that very passage. Hearing what the crowd considered blasphemy, they tried to kill Him. Sadly, they didn’t realize Jesus was their very liberator from oppression and bondage. 

We can profit from Paul’s playbook. Though he received beatings, imprisonments and was left for dead, he continued carrying the torch. He left a fire burning bright that cannot be extinguished and enlightens our journeys.

“Though I am chained, God’s Word is not chained” (2 Tim 2:9). 

The apostle was no longer bound by sin, self or Satan. Because Jesus overcame death, hell, and the grave, like Paul, we can break loose from bondage, temptations, and the snares of the enemy.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed" (Luke 4:18 ESV).

Jesus poured out His blood for the New Covenant of grace and truth, replacing the Old Covenant letter of the law of Moses. Believers are exclusively under the New Covenant, the last will and testament of Jesus that began after the cross.