WebNear the beginning of Lukes Gospel (4:16-20) is what some theologians call the Nazareth Manifesto Jesus mission statement. There are many more, some that go unrecognized, but are no less important in the eyes of God. 4Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit,(B) left the Jordan(C) and was led by the Spirit(D) into the wilderness, 2where for forty days(E) he was tempted[a] by the devil. Thats the whole point of these encounters. If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.. First, the Old Testament law required that lepers who got well be certified by the priestsand Jesus was obedient to Old Testament law. Luke 4:14-30 ESV - Jesus Begins His Ministry - Bible Gateway and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.. WebLuke 4:14-30 English Standard Version Jesus Begins His Ministry 14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the Luke may be using Judea to refer to the land of Israel, the territory of the Jews, and not to a specific portion of it. What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Matthew 1:21. Essentially, Paul explains that contrary to what the world says in Christ, there are no last and least. Drawing on the words of Isaiah, Jesus starts out by saying that the Spirit of the Lord has anointed him to bring good news to the poor. Lukes Gospel always refers to the poor in a literal sense. He didnt walk around with a guilt complexbut he had a healthy awareness of his own sinfulness that came into focus when Jesus supernaturally orchestrated this bonanza fish haul. In a voice strong with anticipation, he reads aloud these words: The Spirit of the Lord is on me, This is a love shown both in words, proclaiming the message of salvation, and in deeds, helping the poor become less poor, through a redistribution of wealth. (Maybe you can relate to Peter.) At times, the poor in Lukes gospel are associated with the downtrodden, the oppressed and afflicted, the forgotten and the neglected (Lk 4:18; 6:2022; 7:22; 14:1214), and it is they who accept Jesus message of salvation. Jesus was also anointed by the Spirit to proclaim release to the captives. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus transformed the physical and spiritual conditions that bound people and held them hostage. 12Jesus said to him in reply, It also says, You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.h After almost 37 years, it still blows my mind how he went out of his way to reach out to an arrogant, self-centered, people-using punk like me. In the name of God: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Because of Jesus miracles, he has no problem believing that Jesus can make him clean (i.e., physically heal him and make him acceptable to God)his problem is believing that Jesus would want to do this. Finished with these few verses, Jesus rolls up the scroll, returns it to the attendant, and takes his seat. It reminds us of the importance in our daily lives of having purpose and direction. This remains an inspiration for many business people today. Copyright 2019-2023 USCCB, please review our Privacy Policy. Read 5:29. While this may have sounded too good to be true to some who gathered to hear Jesus in the synagogue that day, I wonder if this started to make others feel a little uneasy. But the problem of blindness in the Gospels goes beyond literal sight. Jesus response brings us full-circle to Jesus mission statement (read 5:31,32). 35Jesus rebuked him and said, Be quiet! Radical Discipleship: Essays. Now you can appreciate how utterly radical Jesus invitation wasand why Levi responded the way he did (read 5:28). Often these remarks are less than inspiring. Isa.35). The people are all looking at him. He commands his followers to do the same: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.. It was liberating news. I think about this almost every day, and thank him for saving my life from the misery and corruption and condemnation I would have experienced. * Simons mother-in-law was afflicted with a severe fever, and they interceded with him about her. New American Standard Version It is He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives Luke 4:14-21 The Mission Statement of Jesus (Hoffacker), Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing., All Rights Reserved | 1997-2023 Richard Niell Donovan. You have to join the leper and cast yourself before him and say, If you are willing, you can cleanse me. If you have never done this, and you sense that God is speaking to you, do it todaydont delay and let your pride re-assert itself. The amazing thing is Jesus response (read 5:10b). Even the Romans knew they were horriblethey called them licensed robbers and wild beasts in human form.1 They were excommunicated from the synagogues and most rabbis taught that they had passed the point of repentance. Paul continues: the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; whereas our more respectable members do not need this. She got up at once and began to wait on them. Will you join us? * 1 a Filled with the holy Spirit, * Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert 2 for forty days, * to be tempted by the 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 Lords favor (Luke 4:18-19). According to Old Testament law, his leprosy made him ceremonially uncleana kind of physical and spiritual quarantine. : the question reflects the current belief that before the day of the Lord control over humanity would be wrested from the evil spirits, evil destroyed, and Gods authority over humanity reestablished. "Jesus' Mission Statement" Sermon by Kenneth Sauer, Levi knew that he was lostand Jesus found him and called him. One of the greatest tragedies in the so-called evangelical church is that it acts more like the Pharisees in this passage than Peter, the leper and Levi. While the people are biblically literate, commentary on scripture by local folks is often no more than rote recitation of lessons all of them learned at an early age. You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. 35Be quiet! Jesus said sternly. Seven Passages on Social Justice (7 Im really glad about this, because I was a mainstream sinner well on my way to becoming a terminal sinner when Jesus called me to follow him. 2023 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me, Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing, The things that we heard were done in Capernaum, A widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon, They tried to prevent him from leaving them, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Jesus loved the idea, and gladly ate with Levis friends (this communicated acceptance of the ones with whom you dined). 42* At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place. There was probably a considerable overlap between the materially poor and the spiritually poor. * I know who you arethe Holy One of God!v In some ways, Jesus acted like many other rabbis (religious teachers) of his dayhe taught crowds of people, he trained disciples (apprentices), etc. GET YOUR FOUR FREE SAMPLES! I love you very much. And it foreshadows everything we are about to hear him say and see him do for the rest of Lukes 24 chapters. * [4:1630] Luke has transposed to the beginning of Jesus ministry an incident from his Marcan source, which situated it near the end of the Galilean ministry (Mk 6:16a). 4 Luke presents the ministry of Jesus as fulfilling Old Testament hopes and expectations (Lk 7:22); for Luke, even Jesus suffering, death, and resurrection are done in fulfillment of the scriptures (Lk 24:2527, 4446; Acts 3:18). Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Other Healings.x You may lead many people to Christ (Peter), or you may sow many seeds but harvest few. On his return to Galilee he takes the opportunity to set the agenda for what will follow, mapping out his programme and indicating his priorities. I see you. The Cure of a Demoniac. 32and they were astonished at his teaching because he spoke with authority.t It doesnt matter if you are a mainstream sinner or a reject sinner or a terminal sinnerJesus can forgive your sins and heal your wounds and change the whole direction of your life. (AE) 26Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. I often quote this passage not only because of its content (which I DO, in fact, love), but also because it is at the heart of Jesus ministry and message. Here is what he says: Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.. 16He went to Nazareth,(S) where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue,(T) as was his custom. Jesus' Mission, Your Mission | Luke 4 - Life Church St. Louis The synoptic gospel tradition presents Jesus carrying out this task. There are families in places you and I have never heard of who now dont have to walk five miles each way for water, who have a cow or a goat or some chickens to raise because people here supported the CROP Walk or wrote a check to Episcopal Relief and Development, in response to the mission statement of Jesus. Copyright 2003, The Rev. This guy is far worse off than Peter. Luke 4 (LogOut/ 43But he said to them, To the other towns also I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have been sent.a But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. The members of the Church have different gifts for ministry; we are not clones of each other. It is Jesus inaugural address His thesis His mission statement. If youre this kind of person, you know youre pretty messed up (EXAMPLES: PHYSICAL HANDICAPS; SERIOUS EMOTIONAL & PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS; PICKED ON AT SCHOOL; POOR REACTION TO YOUR PROBLEMS & OTHERS MAKES MATTERS WORSE)and you know that most people dont really want to be around you. Remember Jesus mission statement: Healthy people dont need a doctorsick people do. Mission In Jesuss day, many regarded poverty as a sign of Gods judgment and wealth as a sign of Gods blessing. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCBs) mission is to encounter the mercy of Christ and to accompany His people with joy. Once again, Jesus response is completely unexpected (read 5:13). just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.. Theres also the problem of spiritual blindness. * [4:41] They knew that he was the Messiah: that is, the Christ (see note on Lk 2:11). Luke 4:16-21 - The Mission of Christ - JourneyOnline She got up immediately and waited on them. 24And he said, Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place. He may send you to people who are like you (Levi), or he may send you to people very different from you (the leper). The oppressed are set free, whether oppression is a political regime or a chemical dependence. WebJesus Mission Statement [RCL] Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10; Psalm 19; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a; Luke 4:14-21 Todays gospel presents us with Jesus first act of public ministry, described for us in Lukes gospel. Even if you wanted to change, you probably wouldnt be able toand besides, that would never make up for all the bad stuff youve done. Then he began to say to them, Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing. Luke 4:14-21. It is the custom for teachers to sit, rather than to stand, so when Jesus sits, everyone looks at him, expecting some commentary, some explication of this text, a text well known to many of them. WebBy The Rev. to deliver those who are crushed, WebJesus mission is your mission. based on the characteristics of of the characteristics of the mission of his WebTested by the Devil. He has sent me to heal the broken hearted, He is asked to read the lesson from the prophets. Tax-collectors were truly the bottom of the moral barrel in Jewish societyright down there with pimps and prostitutes and professional thieves. Today, today, this scripture has been fulfilled in our hearing. Heightening devotional intensity. When Paul was writing to the Corinth church, he was specifically talking to and about members of the body of Christ: that all of us are called to embrace one anothers differences and to see, love, and hear our fellow members of the body of Christ. By bringing good news to the poor, Jesus overturned taken-for-granted views to reveal the generous scope of Gods care. Jesus claimed the Spirits anointing to let the oppressed go free. Oppression was rampant in Jesuss day, including the Roman occupation of Israel, unfair taxation, and the extortion of widows and orphans by mercenary religious leaders. For us, this means that we are called to embrace the diversity within this body and to offer this kind of love and care for our fellow members here at Ebenezer Lutheran Church, as well for all of our brothers and sisters in the Church (with a capital C) across all denominations and throughout the world. What * [4:23] The things that we heard were done in Capernaum: Lukes source for this incident reveals an awareness of an earlier ministry of Jesus in Capernaum that Luke has not yet made use of because of his transposition of this Nazareth episode to the beginning of Jesus Galilean ministry. He has already been baptized by John in the River Jordan, and its not been long since he left the wilderness, where he spent 40 days and nights being tempted by the devil. 30But he passed through the midst of them and went away. Have you ever humbled yourself before Jesus and told him that you are sick, that you cant heal yourselfand that you are asking him to heal you? WebCHAPTER 4. Luke 4 Charles Hoffacker. And so Joseph and Mary must be patron saints for all the parents now who bring their babies to worship, who make sure their children get to church school, who see that their sons and daughters belong to a youth group. Biblical Commentary to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lords favor.. And third, Jesus wasnt interested in running healing crusades. WebJesus Is Tested in the Wilderness. Luke, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB So Jesus returns to the Nazareth synagogue, thankful for the upbringing he received there. Jesus does the unexpected, the unimaginable, on that memorable sabbath morning in Nazareth. Verse Concepts. Watch on. Not even Jesus can heal you if you wont admit youre sick. WebJesus Rejected at Nazareth. 11:50 am Jump to Comments This Weeks Sermon Jesus Mission Statement SCRIPTURE Luke 4:14-30 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. Its not enough to mentally realize you need help. One final point about Levi: He had another nameMatthew, the Matthew who wrote the first book of our New Testaments. Here in Luke 4, at the beginning of Jesus ministry, we hear him boldly reciting his radical mission statement: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. When the authorities questioned him on this issue, Jesus responded with a pithy mission statement that defended his actions and indicted his criticsread 5:31,32 (NLT). 33In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon,u and he cried out in a loud voice, As we come to the close of one year and begin a new one, may we who follow Jesus as Lord and Savior embrace the values of his biblically-based mission statement. People held captive moved our Lords heart with compassion. They find their discomfort increasingly intolerable, and think that his judicial murder will bring an end to the matter. 39He stood over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her. Jesus has just undergone the pivotal experiences which kick-started his ministry: his baptism by John, temptation in the wilderness and empowerment by the Holy Spirit. - Einstein, Youre aliens here, they say to them there. In the name of God: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. ", "All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. This takes many forms: economic oppression (employers paying workers little or nothing), mental oppression (evil spirits possessing vulnerable people) or religious oppression (teachers imposing on the public a fastidious understanding of the law). Jesus still does these things, because his Church does them. Prayers. Some scholars9 think that Luke 4:19 alludes to the year of Jubilee, the year of Gods favour that occurred once every fifty years. This text even gives hope to the slaves and to those in debt. Its not easy, but these parents know that the child who participates regularly in the community of Gods people is likely to have a strong faith in adulthood and a firm foundation during the crises of life. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. They were rich, but because they were so corrupt, their money was ceremonially uncleanso most Jews wouldnt take their money. * [4:1] Filled with the holy Spirit: as a result of the descent of the Spirit upon him at his baptism (Lk 3:2122), Jesus is now equipped to overcome the devil. Unpacking the Missions Statement of Jesus in Luke 4, Urbana 2012 Opening Session 27 Dec 2012 22:30 J. Nathan Matias | @natematias | Civic Media Blog I'm here in It is to say that black lives DO matter, too! I came to call sinners. But the God we meet in the Bible is a God of justice. 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 Lords favor., As David Lose continues to explain in his commentary: [This means that] God sees all, loves all, and intends and promises to redeem all. Podcasts. And youre pretty sure that even if God could help you, he probably is just as grossed out by you as other people are. and recovery of sight to the blind, Unclean! whenever people approached him. And as was the custom in the synagogue, Jesus stands up to read the scripture: an action that almost any male attendee could do. Remember Jesus mission statement: I have come to call sinners. The synagogue president can invite any appropriate person to comment on the text. But his excitement about the catch is overshadowed by the painful awareness that he doesnt deserve to be around Jesus (5:9). Luke 4:14-30,Isaiah 61 ESV - Jesus Begins His Ministry - And Copyright 2019 by Zondervan. Before our passage for this morning Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River by John the Baptist. I know many businesspeople who are inspired by it. Read 5:14. We can do the same. And for good reason. 40At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one,(AY) he healed them. To make matters worse, many rabbis taught (not the Old Testament) that chronic lepers were being punished by God with this disease because they had committed horrible sins. This year of the Lords favor that is mentioned in Isaiah is the year of Jubilee, which was supposed to occur every 50 years and was the year when land would be returned to its original owners, all Hebrew slaves would be set free and could go home to their families, and all debts would be remitted. The blind receive sight, whether its cataract surgery at a church hospital, or the scales of prejudice falling off the eyes of a bigot. Jesus' Mission Statement | Luke 4: 14-30 | Pastor Jake Potter . Mark 8:22-26; Mark 10:46-52; John 9:1-12). Todays Gospel presents us with Jesus first act of public ministry described for us in Lukes Gospel. Everything that follows in his life, as presented to us in the Gospel, amounts to the living out of the prophecy he claims for himself that sabbath morning in Nazareth. Luke 6:39, 10:23-24). The second lesson is that the only thing you need to do to experience Jesus life-transforming forgiveness and love is to humbly admit to him that you need it. * [4:2] For forty days: the mention of forty days recalls the forty years of the wilderness wanderings of the Israelites during the Exodus (Dt 8:2). One example is the group of Christians who run SonLight Power, an American company that promotes solar-powered energy in developing countries, notably Honduras. Jesus 4 1-2 Now Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wild. The only people in this passage who werent called or healed were the Phariseesand the only reason they werent was because they wouldnt admit they needed it. For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Mission and Purpose The Exalted Christ. Reflections on following Jesus. 23He said to them, Surely you will quote me this proverb, Physician, cure yourself, and say, Do here in your native place the things that we heard were done in Capernaum.* As we see in Jesus mission statement and throughout his ministry, the good news is for ALL members of the human family whether Christian or not. (AZ) 41Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, You are the Son of God!(BA) But he rebuked(BB) them and would not allow them to speak,(BC) because they knew he was the Messiah. Instead, he accepts Peters assessment of himselfbut instead of agreeing that his sinfulness disqualifies him, he says The fact that you acknowledge your unworthiness means youre just the kind of person I can work through to gather many people into Gods kingdom. That kind of undeserved love permanently changed the course of Peters life (read 5:11). Jesus JESUS' MISSION STATEMENT - Luke 4 The different gifts come to life in the context of the whole. Jesus read the old words from Isaiah and claimed them for his own. JESUS' MISSION STATEMENT Luke 4 They worked for hated Rome, so they were viewed as traitors to Gods chosen nation. In popular explanations, Luke 4 underscores that Jesus mission focused on the materially destitute and the downtrodden. Jesus Leaves Capernaum.z Failing to see the truth, the spiritually blind lack purpose, meaning, and direction, and thus are easily tossed around by what St. Paul calls every wind of doctrine (Ephesians 4:14). He came to bring the year of jubilee to the oppressed. Luke 4 MSG - Tested by the Devil - Now Jesus, full - Bible Gateway It also means that God sees the parts of us that we dont want seen. Theres no lectionary to consult to determine this reading; the choice is up to him. Nor is there a book to flip through. This means that he attended synagogue regularly, but he probably didnt like it muchand certainly had no aspirations to become more religious in that sense. Jesus Gospel Study - Jesus' Mission Statement (Luke 1:1-4, 4:14-21) Because they do. The moment you meet Jesus, he immediately gives you the privilege to do the most important thing anyone can dotell others about his love. His Mission Sermon by Travis Markes, Luke 4:14-30 - SermonCentral If Jesus were a good American counselor, he would have disagreed and told Peter that he was a good person. Even Jesus had a mission statement to keep him on track with his identity as the Christ. recovering of sight to the blind, Fight Racism Sermon on Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 and Galatians 6:1-6,7-16, Guest Post at RevGalBlogPals: The Pastoral Is Political: HolyAnger, Guest Post at RevGalBlogPals: The Pastoral is Political: Affirming Spaces for LGBTQIA+Youth, Chris Shannahan - Finding Faith in an Urban World. And who knows what new examples of living out the mission statement of Jesus will appear in the months and years ahead? Jesus was probably invited to speak because he had started to make a name for himself as an authoritative interpreter of Scripture (Luke 4:15), though not one who was the pupil of any particular Rabbi. When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. 15He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all. 1 Roger T. Forster and V. Paul Marston, God's Strategy in Human History (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, 1974), p.213. Luke 4:18-19 8 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He said that if one of his children came up to him and said: Dad, I dont feel like you love me as much as you love my sisters, that child doesnt need her father to respond to her: Honey, I love all of my children the same. Rather, she needs her father to say: Honey, I hear you. We talked about this We see what that looks like in the fourth chapter of the Gospel according to Saint Luke. Christ is depicted as having fulfilled this manifesto which he presented in Luke 4:16-21. The Temptation of Jesus. God and Excerpt from Faith, Hope & the Global Economy, pp.125-130, Faith in Business c/o Westminster College, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0AA, Write an article for God on Monday or our FiBQ journal, Share your expertise and knowledge at one of our events, Invite our Director or Chair to speak at one of your events, Those struggling with inadequate resources, The objects of bullying, gossip and manipulation, Those who have lost touch with their feelings and cant apologise. gain access to 50+ premium resources to enhance your study of Scripture. One of the key differences was the kind of people he helped and apprenticed. It reveals Jesuss identity and purpose as the Christ. Imagination will take you everywhere.