Jesus: The Anointed Messiah and Our Response

Devotional

Day 1: The Divine Anointing of Jesus

Jesus' declaration in the synagogue of Nazareth is a profound moment where He reveals His anointing by the Holy Spirit to fulfill the messianic prophecies. This anointing is not merely a ceremonial act but an endowment with divine power to preach, heal, and liberate. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing Jesus as the Messiah who fulfills God's promises. The Spirit of the Lord upon Jesus signifies His divine mission to bring good news to the poor, proclaim liberty to captives, and recovery of sight to the blind. This moment is a fulfillment of prophecy, as Jesus boldly states, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." His mission is not just historical but deeply personal, calling each of us to acknowledge Him as the one who can heal our broken hearts and set us free from spiritual bondage. [16:09]

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound." (Isaiah 61:1, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways do you need to experience the anointing of Jesus in your life today? How can you invite His healing and liberating power into your current circumstances?

Day 2: The Mystery of the Incarnation

The incarnation of Jesus is a profound mystery where the divine and human natures coexist. This dual nature is essential for understanding His ministry and miracles, which were performed through the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus, being fully divine and fully human, walked among us, experiencing the same challenges and emotions we do, yet without sin. This mystery challenges us to appreciate the complexity and depth of Jesus' identity. It invites us to marvel at the incarnation, where God became flesh and dwelt among us, revealing His love and grace in a tangible way. The incarnation is not just a theological concept but a reality that impacts our understanding of who Jesus is and how He relates to us. [10:11]

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14, ESV)

Reflection: How does the mystery of the incarnation impact your understanding of Jesus' presence in your life? In what ways can you embrace both His divinity and humanity in your daily walk with Him?

Day 3: The Transformative Power of Preaching

Jesus' mission included preaching the gospel to the poor, both physically and spiritually. This highlights the transformative power of the gospel, which brings hope and healing to those who recognize their spiritual poverty. The preaching of the Word is a means of grace and transformation, calling us to value it as a vital part of our spiritual journey. Jesus' words have the power to change lives, offering hope to the hopeless and healing to the broken. As we listen to His teachings, we are invited to open our hearts to the transformative power of His message, allowing it to shape and mold us into His likeness. [18:02]

"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12, ESV)

Reflection: How can you make room in your life to regularly hear and respond to the transformative power of Jesus' preaching? What steps can you take to ensure His words are actively shaping your thoughts and actions?

Day 4: Responding to Jesus' Claim

The reaction of the people in Nazareth serves as a cautionary tale about the danger of familiarity breeding contempt. Despite witnessing the fulfillment of centuries-old prophecies, they struggled to reconcile Jesus' divine mission with their familiarity with Him as Joseph's son. This challenges us to examine our own responses to Jesus' claims and to ensure that we do not miss the divine in the ordinary. It invites us to confront our own perceptions of Jesus and decide how we respond to His claim as the Messiah. Do we recognize Him as the anointed one sent to heal and liberate, or do we allow our preconceived notions to cloud our understanding? [33:14]

"And he said, 'Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown.'" (Luke 4:24, ESV)

Reflection: Are there areas in your life where familiarity with Jesus has led to complacency or disbelief? How can you renew your perspective to see Him afresh and respond to His claims with faith and openness?

Day 5: The Fulfillment of Prophecy

Jesus' reading from Isaiah and His subsequent declaration highlight the fulfillment of prophecy in His person and work. This fulfillment is a testament to God's faithfulness and the unfolding of His redemptive plan through Jesus. It invites us to trust in God's promises and their fulfillment in our lives. As we reflect on the prophecies fulfilled in Jesus, we are reminded of the reliability of God's Word and His commitment to His people. This assurance encourages us to hold fast to His promises, knowing that He is faithful to bring them to pass in His perfect timing. [31:04]

"All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 'Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel' (which means, God with us)." (Matthew 1:22-23, ESV)

Reflection: What promises of God are you holding onto in this season of your life? How can the fulfillment of prophecy in Jesus strengthen your faith in God's faithfulness to fulfill His promises to you?

Sermon Summary

In today's exploration of the Gospel according to Saint Luke, we delved into the profound moment when Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee and began teaching in the synagogues. This passage, particularly focusing on Jesus' visit to Nazareth, is pivotal in understanding His mission and identity as the Messiah. Jesus reads from the book of Isaiah, declaring that the Spirit of the Lord is upon Him, anointing Him to preach the gospel to the poor, heal the brokenhearted, proclaim liberty to captives, and recovery of sight to the blind. This declaration is not just a reading but a fulfillment of prophecy, as Jesus boldly states, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."

This moment is a revelation of Jesus' divine mission, aligning with the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah. It underscores the dual nature of Jesus as both fully divine and fully human, empowered by the Holy Spirit to perform miracles and preach with authority. The reaction of the people in Nazareth, however, is one of disbelief and rejection. Despite witnessing the fulfillment of centuries-old prophecies, they struggle to reconcile Jesus' divine mission with their familiarity with Him as Joseph's son.

This passage challenges us to confront our own perceptions of Jesus. It invites us to sit in the synagogue, hear His words, and decide how we respond to His claim as the Messiah. Do we recognize Him as the anointed one sent to heal and liberate, or do we, like the people of Nazareth, allow our preconceived notions to cloud our understanding? The mission of Jesus is not just historical but deeply personal, calling each of us to acknowledge Him as the one who can heal our broken hearts and set us free from spiritual bondage.

Key Takeaways

1. The Anointing of Jesus: Jesus' declaration in the synagogue reveals His anointing by the Holy Spirit to fulfill the messianic prophecies. This anointing is not just a ceremonial setting apart but an endowment with divine power to preach, heal, and liberate. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing Jesus as the Messiah who fulfills God's promises. [16:09]
2. The Mystery of the Incarnation: The incarnation of Jesus is a profound mystery where the divine and human natures coexist. This dual nature is essential for understanding His ministry and miracles, which were performed through the power of the Holy Spirit. This challenges us to appreciate the complexity and depth of Jesus' identity. [10:11]
3. The Power of Preaching: Jesus' mission included preaching the gospel to the poor, both physically and spiritually. This highlights the transformative power of the gospel, which brings hope and healing to those who recognize their spiritual poverty. It calls us to value the preaching of the Word as a means of grace and transformation. [18:02]
4. Responding to Jesus' Claim: The reaction of the people in Nazareth serves as a cautionary tale about the danger of familiarity breeding contempt. It challenges us to examine our own responses to Jesus' claims and to ensure that we do not miss the divine in the ordinary. [33:14]
5. The Fulfillment of Prophecy: Jesus' reading from Isaiah and His subsequent declaration highlight the fulfillment of prophecy in His person and work. This fulfillment is a testament to God's faithfulness and the unfolding of His redemptive plan through Jesus. It invites us to trust in God's promises and their fulfillment in our lives. [31:04]
** [31:04]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:10] - Jesus Returns to Galilee
[00:39] - Reading from Isaiah
[01:41] - Fulfillment of Scripture
[02:16] - Rejection in Nazareth
[03:28] - Understanding Jesus' Mission
[05:03] - The Significance of Nazareth
[06:42] - Jesus as the Visiting Rabbi
[07:41] - The Prophecy of Isaiah 61
[09:21] - The Anointing of Jesus
[11:01] - The Mystery of the Incarnation
[12:42] - The Power Behind Miracles
[15:36] - Jesus' Ministry Empowered by the Spirit
[18:02] - Preaching to the Poor
[22:37] - The Anointed Preacher
[27:33] - Jesus' Mission Statement
[30:26] - The Shortest Sermon
[31:04] - Fulfillment of Prophecy
[33:14] - The Response of Nazareth
[35:03] - Closing Prayer

Sermon Clips

Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region. And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. [00:00:17]

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 to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed. [00:00:57]

And He began to say to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." So all bore witness to Him and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, "Is not this Joseph's son?" [00:01:01]

But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land; but to none of them was Elijah sent except to Zarephath. [00:02:20]

Now the text that you have just heard is of critical importance to understand the entire person and work of Jesus in His earthly ministry. And so it is imperative that we hear this word and receive it in the power of the Holy Spirit. [00:03:20]

The incarnation of God, the incarnation of the Logos of which John speaks, the second person of the Trinity who takes upon Himself a human nature, so that the person Jesus has two natures, a divine nature and a human nature. [00:09:58]

The power of the third person of the Trinity who, though He is distinguished from the Father and the Son, cannot be separated, as they are all one in being and in essence. But I think it's important that the ministry of Jesus on this earth takes place after He's anointed by the Holy Ghost. [00:15:14]

The Messiah would be, and Jesus was, anointed by the Holy Ghost to preach. If you look down through the pages of church history, dear friends, you will find the record of great preachers who have had outstanding ministries. [00:17:55]

The most anointed preacher that ever walked the face of the earth, the one who had the greatest unction, whose preaching was so powerful that thousands of people could be converted in a single sermon, was Jesus of Nazareth. [00:22:29]

He came to proclaim liberty to those who were enslaved and enchained, but those who were held captive by Satan himself, those who were in bondage to sin, slaves to the power of evil. Jesus came to set them free. [00:26:04]

The people of Israel have been waiting generation after generation for the Lord's anointed, the Lord's deliverer, the Lord's conqueror to come. And today, He's here, right now. They got the message. What Jesus is saying is, "You're looking at Him." [00:31:04]

There is no more important act of evaluation and judgment that you will ever make in your life than answering the question, "Who is Jesus?" Sit there for a moment in your imagination on the floor in the synagogue. [00:32:42]

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