Unrolling the scroll, Jesus found the place where it was written: God’s Spirit is on me; God’s chosen me to
preach the message of good news to the poor, sent me to announce pardon to prisoners and recovery of
sight to the blind, to set the burdened and battered free, to announce, “This is God’s year to act!” Jesus
rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the assistant, and sat down. Every eye in the place was on him,
intent. Then he started in, “You’ve just heard Scripture make history. It came true just now in this place”.
(Luke 4: 18 – 21)

When Kevin stepped through the doorway and heard the door clang shut, he remembered how he felt
two years, seven months, and 26 days earlier when he walked through the same door and heard it lock
behind him. He remembered thinking how life could not get any worse.

But it did. Serving time in prison was not meant to be fun; that’s why they call it a penitentiary of
correctional centre. This particular facility was minimum security, so it wasn’t as bad as it could be.
But it was bad enough. Everybody in jail is there for a reason, Kevin discovered, and such people
would be his friends, neighbours, and co-workers for the next few years.

He served his time, paid his debt to society, behaved well in prison, and so he parole board said he was
free to go. What a great feeling! He never felt his spirit lifted so high. What a difference it was from that
first day. He also remembered the words of the chaplain: It is Jesus Christ who sets the captives free.
Experience your freedom as God’s gift to you and “realise the certainty of the teachings you have
received”. Kevin paused for a moment to give thanks to God for all the good things in his life. He
thanked God, too, for the Spirit of new life he had received in prison. He asked the Lord to be with him
and help him live a good life. Then he turned and headed down the way to freedom.