Sunday: Jesus’ Mission Statement
Jesus, the young rabbi from Nazareth, had become very popular in the region of Galilee (Luke 4:15). When He spoke, “the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes” (Matt. 7:28-29, NKJV).
Image © Erik Stenbakken from GoodSalt.com
One Sabbath, when handed the scroll of Isaiah, Jesus read the first two verses of Isaiah 61, stopping in midsentence just before the phrase “and the day of vengeance of our God” (Isa. 61:2, NIV).
Read Luke 4:16-19. Where have we heard these words before? (See Isa. 61:1-2.) What was Jesus proclaiming by reading those texts?
As we already saw, the phrase “the year of the LORD’s favor” is identified as the year of jubilee (see Leviticus 25:1-55). In this visit to Nazareth, Jesus quotes a messianic passage from Scripture and assures His hearers that “ ‘Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing’ ” (Luke 4:21, NIV). In this sermon He reveals Himself as the Anointed One who preaches good news to the poor, freedom for prisoners, sight for the blind, release for the oppressed, and jubilee restoration. This list well describes His earthly ministry, which was focused on teaching, healing, and ministering, especially to those in need.
Why would Jesus stop short of completing the sentence in Isaiah 61:2?
Perhaps Jesus stopped short of the phrase “the day of vengeance of our God” because Jesus did not want His ministry to be associated with the prevailing concept that the Messiah would come to lead armies to vanquish the oppressors of Israel and bring them under Israel’s power. That was a false conception that would, unfortunately, keep many of His fellow countrymen from seeing Him and His ministry for what it really was. Instead, He focused on what He would do for those who needed what He had to offer right then and there, regardless of the political situation of the time.
| What should it say to us that Jesus announces His ministry in this way; that is, what should we take away for ourselves by His emphasizing here the practical work that we would be doing? |
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Conjecture being an answer to the question. One simple reason that Jesus may have stopped short of the complete quote from Isiah 61:1,2,was because He wanted to. What Jesus continued with in Luke 4 : 21-23 was of more interest. Also the threat on Jesus life in Luke 4:24-30 reveals the purposes for being led by the Holy Spirit and temptations in the wilderness, to current events in the synagogue that caused wrath and hatred.
Jesus had more on His mind in Luke 4:20:-23. He was no longer quoting from scripture but presenting His own thoughts.
Personally I do believe it was because He Himself had said in John 3:17 "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."
Christ mission THEN was not to condemn nor to destroy but to reveal the Character of His Father that has been misunderstood.
Yes Daniel, Jesus was giving "present truth", for which the unread words in Isaiah were not relevant at the time, and would have fueled the fire of false hopes for the "messiah" most were looking for.
Also, the typical services show how the sin offering is the starting point for how man is to be saved from sin, followed by perfecting godliness in the life as the High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary prepares a “place” for them among the holy beings that dwell before the Lord (John 14:2, Zech 3:7).
We also have the truth revealed in Daniel 9:24 that shows how Jesus' earthly ministry would “anoint the most holy”. Until Jesus completes the heavenly portion of His work for sinners, the day of vengeance cannot come. God is just and true in all his ways (Rev 15:3).
I think Jesus may be stopped where He stopped because ,His country men always ignored what He read and jumped to what He did not and went a head to misinterperate it.
Jesus was catering to the needs of the people at that time, giving hope for those who saw Him as sent from God, with a hope of reaching those who saw Him differently.
I read this on Facebook some time ago...
"It is not those who stand in the light and acknowledge the darkness to bring light into the world. It is those that walk into the darkness and bring the Light With them."
Are we as a church too willing to stand in the light to acknowledge the darkness but umwilling to charge into that Darkness with light? Is it a church thing or is it an individual thing?...Royce
Royce,We know that darkness is the absence of light so it stands to reason that in order to make a difference a source of light must be available. it is an individual thing, but many individual sources make collective contributions such as a church.
Is it a church thing or is it an individual thing?...Royce.
Brother Royce, the church is made up of individuals. Also the church is not the four corner building. Brother, you are the church.
Christ outlined His Mission statements:
1. The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
2. He has Anointed Me
3. Preach the gospel to the poor,
4. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
5. To proclaim liberty to the captives,
6. And recovery of sight to the blind
7. To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
8. To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.
9. I am a sinner in dare need of a Savior. Thank, Jesus came to this world to save and also left us a model to follow.
Jesus must have seen that his audiance was not understanding what he was reading from the scriptures. He saw they were at different levels, and saw that only explaining to them was good enough. They failed to comprehend that the reading was pointing to him.
Time had come for Jesus to review himself and what he had come to do, without this people wouldnt know what jesus came for he wanted to fulfil what the prophets had spoken.
This lesson sent a wake up call in my personal life that what is my mission statement. Can people tell without me having to speak my mission. If my mission is not in line with Gods will then who i am i living for. Christ knew his mission as results it make easy to see what is not of His mission. We as young people we just live because we woke up during that day. It's about time that we have a mission statement not to state it with our mouth but by out acts.
Stating it with our actions is the best sermon we can preach. Having the Light and not letting it shine is not useful.
The audience of Jesus was not in the frame of mind to understand what He was communicating to them at that time because they were experiencing physical oppression and they desired immediate physical relief. I can appreciate their distraction but we should never be so distracted that we are not able to differentiate between the eternal and the temporal. The relief that Jesus was offering was one that could endure the trials and difficulties so that they could experience the peace that passeth all understanding. Our duty is to offer to the oppressed in our community what we have experienced ourselves, physical and spiritual help.
I believe that Jesus read these words as a statement of his commission as the Anointed One (Messiah). They reflect his self-understanding of his mission.
Some of our "fringe" or "offshoot" groups are thought to be at fault when they use partial quotes. And I can agree... sometimes they are at fault when they [or we] do that.
But the fact that Jesus Himself cut short a quote (in mid-sentence) shows that it is NOT NECESSARILY WRONG. There are times when it is the very best thing to do. Jesus shows us that we should not expect "Pharisaical exactitude" (TM p.195) when it comes to quotes.
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Also, in answer to the question, "Why would Jesus stop short of completing the sentence in Isaiah 61:2?" -
I would suggest that one reason for Jesus stopping short in that sentence, is that the people were actually familiar with the text. They knew what the next words were. Some of the people may have completed the quote in their heads... some even, may have voiced the final words.
Maybe Jesus means us to understand that the first part of the quote is fulfilled at His first coming and the second part of the quote at His Second Coming?
Our mission should be led by the Spirit just as Jesus was led.Selfish motives can be used but the answer on the last day will be depart from me you evil doers