This morning, as I read in Leviticus 25, I’m captured by the thought of Jubilee. Literally the word means “shout” . . . could be a shout of alarm . . . could be the shout a battle cry . . . or, as in the case here, it could be the shout of joy. For the Israelites, every 50th year was to be a Year of Jubilee. It was to be a Year of “shouting for joy”. How come? Because it was the year where they were to “proclaim liberty throughout all the land to all its inhabitants” (25:10). It was the year where anyone who had sold their land, their inheritance, as a way to make ends meet, would have that inheritance returned to them. It was the year when everyone who had sold themselves into slavery in order to feed his family and put a roof over their heads, would be released. Inheritance returned . . . slaves released. In every sense, it was a year to proclaim liberty.

Now there were provisions to redeem one’s land if he could afford it. There was a way for a slave to repay his master to secure his freedom if he had the money. But for those who could not come up with the payment . . . for those who could not repay the debt . . . for those who could not redeem themselves . . . there was Jubilee. There was a sovereign declaration of God that land was to be returned and slaves were to be released. And I can’t help but put myself into that celebration this morning.

I am living in Jubilee. Born with the nature of Adam, I was sold into the slavery of sin. Because of self-will, pride, and a determination to do things my way, I had no access to the inheritance. And there was no price I could pay that would purchase that inheritance nor redeem me from my slavery. No amount of money . . . no amount of self determined righteousness . . . no amount of good works. And then came Jubilee.

Through His death on the cross, Jesus offered the price of redemption. By His blood, the debt I owed was declared “Paid in Full!” On that first day of the week after His crucifixion . . . the stone was rolled away . . . the tomb was empty . . . and all heaven shouted for joy . . . proclaiming Jubilee . . . God having declared, “My Son is the basis for your return . . . He is the way to your release . . . Jesus is the Jubilee!”

This morning I am free. Free from the penalty of sin . . . free from the power of sin . . . and in a day soon to come, I will be free from the presence of sin as I go to receive the promised inheritance “incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you” (1Peter 1:4). No wonder the trumpets sound at Jubilee . . . no wonder there is a shout of joy in the camp. God having determined to do all He could to make a way back for us. God having paid the price . . . God having proclaimed the good news . . . God having provided the way. And mine is to acknowledge the debt of my sin . . . mine is to believe that His Beloved Son fully paid the price of redemption on the cross . . . mine is to receive Jesus as Savior and Lord . . . and then . . . mine is to shout, “Jubilee!”

I don’t merit Jubilee . . . I haven’t earned Jubilee . . . but oh, I rejoice in the grace of Jubilee. And that grace, that unmerited favor, is available to all who believe. Jesus said, “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, for He has anointed Me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the LORD’s favor has come” (Luke 4:18,19 NLT). Today is another day of Jubilee . . . Jesus is the Jubilee . . . do you hear the trumpet? . . . do you hear the shout of joy?

Released and returned . . . free in Christ . . . oh, how sweet! To Him be all the glory, amen!