Introduction
‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me… Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’ Us Brits have a deep aversion to arrogance. We like to put ‘big heads’ in their place. But here is Jesus, not boasting, rather stating that he fully understands his identity, and the responsibility that comes along with it. Now, that really is a challenge.
Reading: Luke 4.14–21
Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.
When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. 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 bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’
And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’
Questions:
- Luke tells us that Jesus was filled with the power of the Spirit. He is not doing this alone. How are we at relying on the Spirit rather than our own strength?
- Jesus was clear about his identity, responsibility and call. Where might we find that clarity?
- How might God be calling your worshipping community to be good news to the poor, release to the captives, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour’?
It is only when I say a prayer before I speak, asking Christ to use me as His channel that belps me to feel that it His message and not mine