Tuesday, April 11
A dazzling claim
Scripture: Luke 4
Luke 4:16–21 Now Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read,17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,
18 “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 release to the captives
and the regaining of sight to the blind,
to set free those who are oppressed,
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 fixed on him. 21 Then he began to tell them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled even as you heard it being read.”
Observation
Jesus launches His ministry by going to His hometown, Nazareth, and reading a Scripture that describes Israel’s Spirit-filled redeemer. Then the bombshell: “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” In other words, Jesus presented Himself as the fulfillment of this Scripture and of Israel’s hope.
This is often called Jesus’ mission statement. He is anointed and sent by the Spirit to proclaim good news to the poor, release to the captives, sight to the blind and the year of the Lord’s favor. He came to set free the oppressed. These things are all to be understood both physically and spiritually. This is what He came to do, what He is about, and what we should be about to be on mission with Him.
Jesus presented Himself as the fulfillment of Scripture—a passage that was used of God. He made Himself the issue. He offers Himself as the answer, the hope, the redeemer. It’s a dazzling claim. And the reaction? They wanted to kill Him.
Application
Jesus makes Himself the issue. Don’t be sidetracked by anything else. Jesus is our redeemer and savior, the one who sets us free. People will want to divert you to secondary issues—always bring them back to Jesus. Every other issue pales in the face of Jesus reading this passage and saying, “Today, it’s fulfilled in Me.” Arguing about anything else would seem silly after He said this!
How can I be about what Jesus is about today? Setting people free. Sharing good news. Help me Lord!
Prayer: Lord, I love You. You have made this dazzling claim. Yet I confess that I’m easily distracted by lesser issues. Help me keep Jesus the issue before people…always.
More: Joshua 11-12, Psalm 43, Romans 14