Notice here that the listing: the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind – reflect those listed in Jesus’ initial declaration for his ministry way back in Luke 4:18: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.
That word, “proclaim,” has lost its real impact in our modern ears. We kind of hear it as, “make an announcement,” or “send out an email to everyone.” It has been translated as “Gospel,” and as “Good News.” But its fuller meaning is “royal decree.” Jesus is not just announcing the year of the Lord’s favour. He is declaring it; enacting it; making it real; bringing it into effect, into force. Just as Caesar then, or a modern legislature today creates new realities simply by deciding and declaring (proclaiming) them, that is exactly what Jesus does. He proclaims the year of the Lord’s favour and then sets out to live it and show what it means / looks like to others.