THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 4:14-21
“The Spirit of the Lord… has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.” (Luke 4:18)
Jesus is God’s promised messiah (‘anointed one’), anointed to do God’s work.
And this is God’s work… to help the poor, weak, suffering and oppressed.
Human history is a litany of misery and injustice, and we are the cause of it.
God’s anointed humans failed in their mission, so God raises up a new missionary.
In Jesus the world finally sees someone living like God created us to live.
He initiates God’s restored kingdom, the beginning of the time of God’s favour!
Wherever the poor or needy or oppressed are helped, God’s Spirit is at work.
We are now anointed by the same Spirit, and are urged to join in the kingdom work.
THIS is what it means to be anointed (‘christian’, literally ‘little christs’).
The Spirit of the Lord was on Jesus, and He willingly followed His leading.
The Spirit of the Lord is on me, am I willingly following his leading?
Do I feel energized by God’s Spirit, on fire for God’s purpose?
Is my life good news to the poor, the oppressed, the sick, the abused?
Jesus is here restoring God’s kingdom; am I working with Him for the same goal?
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, Your Spirit is prompting me to be good news too. May I follow your lead, join with your Spirit, and may Your kingdom come through me as well.