When Jesus Comes to Town
Opening Prayer
Spirit of the Living God, fill me and help me to walk in step with You.
Read 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.” Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What prophecy is Jesus' ministry fulfilling?As he begins his ministry, Jesus makes this powerful declaration of who he is and what he is about to do. Reading through the Gospels, we see verses 18 and 19 being fulfilled: the Good News is preached to the poor, prisoners are set free, the blind see, the oppressed are released, and the Lord’s favor is proclaimed. This is what it looks like when Jesus comes to town!Later Jesus would teach his disciples to do the same (Luke 9:1-6; 10:1-11), and in Acts we see the early believers continuing in the same vein. When Jesus ascended to heaven, he left the church to be his body on earth–doing the things he had been doing. Just as he was anointed by the Spirit, so his church is to be anointed by the Spirit; and just as he brought transformation to many, so we are to bring transformation. I live in an area where there is a lot of poverty; many people are in bondage to different things; many are oppressed; many are spiritually blind. The need can be overwhelming; I often wish I could do more. We are not all able to be on the frontline of preaching the Good News and bringing healing and release; but we are all called to be part of the body of Christ as he continues his work around the world.
Apply
You have a role in Jesus’ continuing ministry of transforming lives. Talk to Jesus about what this looks like.
Closing prayer
God, You are the truly real. Help me see You and turn from all this world runs after.
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