From my reading in Luke 4:1-30 in the One Year New Testament.

Jesus Came Into It (The World) To End It…

One of the important social justice issues of our generation is human trafficking. I am excited that many Christians and organizations like The End It Movement are stepping up to help those living in this tragic reality. At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, he opened the scroll of Isaiah and read the prophesy about the chain-breaking work he would do as Messiah.

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Luke 4:18–19

Jesus did all these things and He is continuing to do them through his spiritual body, the Church.

There are many other applications to these verses, but in this article I am going specifically focus on how these verses apply to fighting human trafficking.

The Spirit of the Lord is on me…

Without the Spirit’s power, we can not hope to see lasting change in people’s hearts. The Holy Spirit must be working to change hearts of the traffickers, consumers, and victims alike.

He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor…

When people receive Christ, they are transformed into new people, and eventually their desires will change as well. Those men who are addicted to sex can be transformed by Jesus and the demand for sex trafficking will decrease. Also, it is possible for the traffickers themselves to be transformed if they will repent of their vile actions.

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind…

Jesus proclaimed freedom for the prisoners. As a follower of Jesus, I want to be a part of setting captives free. When you play a part in helping stop human trafficking you are a part of setting people free. Also, Jesus literally opened physical and spiritual eyes in his ministry!

to set the oppressed free…

Imagine the oppression the victims of human trafficking experience. When you play a part in exposing and releasing people from this you are helping set the oppressed free!

to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor…

In the Bible Expository Commentary, Warren Wiersbe writes about how the year of the Lord’s favor refers to the the “Year of Jubilee” where every five years “… slaves were set free and returned to their families, property that was sold reverted to the original owners, and all debts were canceled. The land lay fallow as man and beast rested and rejoiced in the Lord.”

Jesus came into it to end it! 

It is the privilege of the church to continue to be about setting captives free spiritually and literally in this fight against human trafficking!

Are you in it to end it?

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