These are the words read by Jesus about Himself, recorded in Luke's gospel (Luke 4:18,19), and is another of the passages about the servant. He has been anointed to proclaim good news to the poor. He is to bind up the broken-hearted, and proclaim freedom to the captives, and release from darkness, and the year of the Lord's favour. At this point Jesus stopped the quotation, maybe because the next bit will be fulfilled at the second coming. However, I am not sure about this. Vengeance is exercised by God on those forces, spiritual or human, who hold people in captivity. At the moment God is in the business of bringing freedom and release.
The "year of the Lord's favour" is clearly not a calendar year, but an indeterminate period of time. This should be a word of caution about taking every reference in the Bible to periods of time as literal.
The work of the servant is to bring transformation. to change ashes to beauty, joy in place of mourning, praise and gladness for despair. We should apply this to ourselves in two ways. First there is no circumstance about ourselves that cannot be changed, and God is in the business of change. Secondly, when we look at the world around us, especially at individuals involved in our lives, we should not lose heart, but look at them through the eyes of Jesus and of His mission.
We will be called mighty oaks and are for the display of His splendour.
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