Anointed One

Reading: Luke 4: 14-22

"The Spirit of the Lord 

is upon Me, 

because He has anointed Me."

Luke 4:18 

After Jesus was tempted by the devil, He returned in the power of the Holy Spirit to Galilee, the region where He grew up, as a boy. News of Him went out through all the surrounding area. He taught in their synagogues, and was praised by everyone who heard Him.

Then He came to Nazareth, His home town. And as he usually did, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. He was handed the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written:

"'The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, 

because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; 

He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, 

to proclaim liberty (freedom) to the captives, 

and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed, 

to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.' 

Then He rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone were fastened on Him, and He began by saying to them, 'Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.' All spoke well of Him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from His lips.' Isn't this Joseph's son?' " Luke 4:18 NKJ/NIV 

What did Jesus mean when He said 'Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing'? Jesus revealed for the first time who He is... Messiah, The long awaited Messiah. There He was, standing right before their eyes. He grew up among these people for thirty years and they did not know who walked among them.

When He read this passage in Isaiah 61, He was reading the character and signs of Messiah. Here Isaiah describes the ministry of God's Anointed, God's Messiah, as a healer and a messenger of freedom and comfort. This is the very essence of Jesus' ministry... the very essence of who Jesus was and what He came to do.  Isaiah prophesied this description of Messiah some 700 years before Jesus came.

To anoint means to rub with oil, especially to consecrate; which means to set someone apart for a holy use. Jesus' whole life was set apart to please God, His Father. He is the Messiah and His title came to be "Jesus the Messiah". Messiah was translated into Greek as Christos, this is how we know Him today as "Jesus Christ".

Read through His reading of Isaiah 61:1, 2. Do you see yourself there? Poor? Broken hearted? Captive to sin or destructive attitudes? Blind to the kingdom of God? Oppressed? In need of God's favor and grace? Come to Him... be rich in Him... find comfort and joy in Him... find freedom in Him... find favor and grace with "eyes to see" the kingdom of God! Come!

How blessed we are that Jesus has come! Now, every year is the year of God's favor, because His Son has come! Through Him we may enter in to everything that He has accomplished through our faith and knowledge of Him. (2 Peter 1:3, 4)

Dear Reader from Afar

I write this blog today to you dear readers who are from all parts of the earth. Thank you for coming and reading this blog. I wonder who you are and what you are experiencing in a land so far from my own.

The last 12 days have been stunning with the events taking place in the streets of Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen, even Jordan and now Syria as demonstrations, riots, and demands for leaders to step down take place. What is the significance of all of this in relation to the end of the age. Are we coming close? Is Jesus' return close? How are you, dear reader? Are you OK? What are you experiencing?

Today's message of Repentance is timely for us all, as each of us must keep our hearts pure before God regardless of where we live and the culture we live in. I used the church of the Laodecia from the book of Revelation, because in a general sense if fits the church in the US as a whole. But if you are enduring tribulation or persecution, I offer the words of Jesus to the church of Smyrna, the persecuted church, for your encouragement and send them with my prayers.

"I know your suffering and your poverty... but your are rich! 

I know the blasphemy of those opposing you... 

Don't be afraid of what you are about to suffer. 

The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you... 

But if you remain faithful even when facing death, 

I will give you the crown of life.

Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit 

and understand what He is saying to the churches. 

Whoever is victorious 

will not be harmed by the second death." 

Revelation 2:9-11 NLT

Beautiful promises. If you are suffering and would like prayer, please comment and we will pray for you.