Monday, January 09, 2012
Jesus Preaching and
Mission
Luke 4: 14-21
14 Jesus returned to
Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole
countryside. 15 He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone
praised him. 16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up,
and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood
up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to
him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
18 “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,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
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,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
Wouldn’t
it be great to go to synagogue when Jesus was preaching? It was the custom of
Jesus and his family to attend synagogue (the gathering) to be instructed and
to instruct from God’s word. What a
great example for us. People sometimes
ask, “Why should I go to church?” The
most simple and profound answer is this: because Jesus did. We may go to church and Jesus will speak to
us! Wouldn’t that be great?
Jesus
stood to read that Sabbath Day from Isaiah 61 verses 1 and 2. Then he sat down
and taught in one sentence. He used only eight words. “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
Jesus
was outlining his mission for us.
First,
it was a Spirit anointed mission. Jesus was walking in the power of the Spirit
and the text in Isaiah makes it clear that the Spirit of the Lord was upon Him. What a lesson for us. Ministry must be accomplished in the Spirit’s
power.
Second,
the mission of Jesus was to set sinners free.
Jesus came to seek and save the lost.
In this text we see the effects of sin on the lives of people. Sin impoverishes. It takes good things out of
our lives. Jesus came to give life abundantly; to proclaim good news. Sin imprisons. Jesus came to proclaim
freedom. Sin blinds. Jesus came to give sight; to open eyes. Sin bruises. It oppresses people. Jesus came
to heal. The mission of Jesus should be
the mission of every church. To seek the imprisoned, the impoverished, the
blind and the bruised and proclaim the freedom that Jesus Christ can give.
Third,
the mission of Jesus was to proclaim the grace of God. To proclaim the favor of the Lord. This is a proclamation of God’s love, God’s
mercy, God’s choice of every one of us. It’s good news that God is for us and
not against us.
What
a mission. Will you make Jesus’ mission
your mission? To walk in the Spirit’s
power? To share the freedom that Jesus
can bring? To extend the grace of God?
What
a privilege to be on a mission with Jesus!
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