The Messiah

SATURDAY APRIL THE 16TH 2011

Mission of the Messiah (I)

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Today’s Bible Text Luke 4:16-21

And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives

and recovering of sight to the blind,

to set at liberty those who are oppressed,

to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

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Today’s Notes from the Scriptures

Chapter 4 of Luke’s gospel finds Jesus in the synagogue of His hometown, Nazareth. He’s recently survived a 40 day fast and temptation battle with Satan. He’s just beginning His public ministry and word about Him is spreading as people are blown away by His teaching. We can imagine it’s a packed house on the Sabbath as people are trying to figure out what’s going on with this hometown, son of a carpenter, turned rock-star rabbi…

And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to Him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

And He rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him.

They sat in stunned silence—they were amazed that this teacher is the son of a local carpenter—and then Jesus took it one step further…

And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

Jesus is in essence saying: I am the Messiah and this is what I came to do… I am here to proclaim good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind, and freedom to those who are oppressed.

Jesus is incredibly clear about His mission and identity. Regardless of how people tried to define or confine Him, He knew exactly who He was and what He was about.

If you are a follower of Jesus, your identity and mission are intricately linked to His. Your identity and mission are to follow those of Jesus.

What is your mission? What is your purpose? Why do you exist?

Could you put who you are and what you are about in two to three sentences?

Would it line up with the mission of Jesus?

It should.

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SUNDAY APRIL THE 17TH 2011

The Mission of the Messiah (II)

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Today’s Bible Text is Luke 4:18-19

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives

and recovering of sight to the blind,

to set at liberty those who are oppressed,

to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

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Today’s Notes from the Scriptures

In this passage Jesus clearly identifies His mission by quoting from Isaiah 61. This is a theme He returns to over and over again with statements such as:

The Son of Man came to seek and save the lost. Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.

There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

If you scan the gospels, it’s not difficult to see how Jesus prioritized His life and ministry:

• The sinful over the righteous.

• The sick over the well.

• The least over the greatest.

• The lost over the found.

Simply put: Seek the lost. Serve the least.

Does this describe the priorities of your life and ministry?

Why or Why not?