Luke thus carefully anchors the life and teaching of Jesus in the history of ancient Israel. Jesus’s ministry is the fulfillment of the hopes expressed by the prophet Isaiah, of Israel’s yearning for the good news, for healing and liberty. This yearning is deeply grounded in the exodus story and God’s liberating intervention. All Jesus has to say is, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” Luke wants to tell his readers: Jesus is the anointed one on whom the Spirit rests, the prophetic Messiah God has sent to proclaim the liberation of Israel.
