I grew up in Lancaster, California most of my childhood. I went through school with the same classmates from elementary thru his school. Later on, I left for college and didn’t come back home for more than a visit. One time, many years later, I was visiting with my wife and ran into some old friends. We spent some time catching up, and when I told them that I graduated from college and was now in the ministry, they couldn’t believe it. The image they had of me was still as a classmate in school. Jesus encountered the same thing when he returned to Nazareth to preach in the synagogue. He was empowered to preach in spite of the doubts.
Luke 4:18
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed,”
It Was Prophis ied
Jesus reads this passage from Isaiah 61 in the synagogue in his home town of Nazareth. That is significant because he is telling his people what he was called to do. They were familiar with this passage because it was attached to the coming Messiah. Jesus declared he was it, but they rejected him. To them, Jesus was just a carpenter’s boy, nothing more. To the world, he came to set people free from the grips of sin.
Set About His Mission
Anointed and Spirit-empowered Jesus set about his mission. He was to go about preaching the Gospel, proclaim release to those bound by sin, open the eyes of those physically and spiritually blind, and set free the oppressed. That is a daunting mission, but he accomplished it. He didn’t let the doubts of those close to him prevent him from accomplishing what his Father sent him to do.
Take it to Your World
Today this mission is still being carried on by those who preach the good news and proclaim freedom. We can bring this to those in our world who are lost and hurting. They can experience the power of the saving grace of Jesus Christ. For those who are struggling with addiction, they can be set free, for those who are lost their eyes can be opened. What it takes is someone willing to go and preach despite what others may say.