The Mission of Jesus: Life, Liberty, & Love

Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him. He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: "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 freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for 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 in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."

In this passage, we find Jesus in a natural setting; his hometown of Nazareth and in the temple where he had previously taught. Jesus was just following the normal order of a first century worship and accepted the welcoming offer to the newest "Rabbi" in town to read the Holy Word. Notice that the scroll of Isaiah is "handed" to Jesus, he does not "pick" it out to read, but is given the scroll and led by the Spirit to share that particular passage. Jesus then gives us the Spirit filled an anointed activites that He would perform to set people free, and activites that we the church should still be following today.

1. EVANGELISM.

" He has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor."

The word "preach" here in the original Greek carries the connotation "to bring the good news with a message intended to cheer up the hearer."To the paraplegic Jesus said, "Be of GOOD CHEER, your sins are forgiven." (Matt. 9:2)To the disciples on the storm-tossed sea - "Be of GOOD CHEER, it is I, be not afraid." (Matt. 14:27)To His disciples when He told them He was going to heaven - "These things have I spoken to you, that in me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation. But be of GOOD CHEER, I have overcome the world."

(John 16:33)

2. ENCOURAGEMENT

"He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted." Brokenhearted" is a very descriptive word. It is used in the Bible only here and in the verse from Isaiah which Jesus quoted.
The bad news is there are a lot of brokenhearted people in this world. They suffer from broken relationships, they come from broken homes, they experience broken health, and a lot are broken financially.

The Bible concept is to be "made whole". (Mt. 9:22, 15:28; Mk. 6:56; Jn. 5:6,14; Acts 4:9) The Greek word "whole" can be defined: "To cause to be; to generate; to become." This wholeness is only accomplished through the work of Holy Spirit. He is the only One who can work on the inside where the broken heart beats.

3. EDIFICATION

"To preach deliverance to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind."
Once a person is made whole again through Christ, they need to experience the recovery and restoration process. This too, is a work of the Spirit.The scripture utilizes two very colorful words to describe people without Jesus: "CAPTIVES" and "BLIND".It also uses two powerful words for the restoration process: "DELIVERANCE" and "RECOVERY".

Edification is a good Bible word that describes the recovery or restoration process. Edification builds people up again, and is the opposite of the destruction and brokenness sin causes.

2 Corinthians 13:10/This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority--the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.
Romans 14:19. Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.

1Thessalonians 5:10-11/ He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

4. EQUIPPING

"To set at liberty them that are bruised."

"Its one thing to be set free, but how are we supposed to handle the scars that sin leaves? How do we deal with the "bruises"?
The word "liberty" here literally means "freedom by pardon, forgiveness and remission".The words pardon and forgiveness are pretty clear, but remission is a Bible word we don’t use as much today.

"If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed." - John 8:36

2 Peter 1:3. “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”

5. EXALTATION

"To preach the acceptable year of the Lord."

Christ is talking about the Lord’s favor here - the gracious offer of Himself. Christ is the only "acceptable" offering for our sins.

WHAT is the result of this offering of Himself for our sins?

Jesus said, "If I be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men unto me." (John 12:32)

John 14:12, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father."

Ever wonder about what kind of those GREATER WORKS Jesus was talking about?

They are the works of the Spirit he proclaims here in this passage!

It is SIN that makes us POOR, that BREAKS our hearts, that takes us CAPTIVE, that makes us BLIND to God’s truth…IT IS SIN THAT IS IN A CONSTANT STATE OF OPRESSION AGAINST THE CHILDREN OF GOD!

JESUS did not come to this world just to PREACH DELIVERANCE, or BRING DELIVERANCE to us, BUT to BE DELIVERANCE!

IS THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD ON YOU?

Questions to Discuss:

1. Is it reasonable to expect that the power of the Spirit will be as great in a Christian today as it was in Jesus?
2. Why can being around the very poor make us feel uncomfortable? Can we with integrity declare good news to the poor without seeking to alleviate their poverty? Can the two be separated?
3. Who around you is a prisoner? How can you declare freedom to them with sensitivity?
4. How should you heal the brokenhearted in your world?
5. Who are the oppressed in your particular community? How can you assist them and help them find justice?
6. What main points did Jesus make to the people of his hometown (v 24-27)? ( 1Kings 17:14-16, 2 Kings 5:1-14)
7. Why were the people angry with what Jesus said? Do you get angry if someone tells you the truth about yourself? Why do we sometimes avoid facing the truth about ourselves?
8. What kind of reception from others should you expect when you speak the truth?
9. How did Jesus demonstrate the importance of worship? How about the importance of knowing the Scriptures.

(Sermon excerpts and 5 points taken from "Liberty When Life's Not Fair" by Pastor Brian Atwood of the Pathway Church of Huntsville, AL.)

The Temptations of Jesus; The Pride of Life

The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down from here. For it is written: " 'He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.' " Jesus answered, "It says: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.' " When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.

Luke 4:9-13

In the third and final temptation, the devil appeals to the "pride of life", trying to get Jesus to rely on himself other than the faithfulness of the Father. For the first time in this passage, the devil quotes scripture, citing Psalm 91, albeit, leaving out the "in all your ways" and twisting the Word to fit his actions.

When a child of God is in the will of God, he can claim the Father’s protection and care... but if he willfully gets into trouble and expects God to rescue him, then he is tempting God. (See Exodus 17:1-7)

Our Lord’s reply was, “on the other hand, it is written”

(Matthew. 4:7 NASB), `Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'

Jesus balanced Scripture with Scripture to get the total expression of God’s will.

When WE try to live OUR life outside the WILL of GOD, we exhibit the PRIDE of LIFE!

So, how do we hear God's voice, how do we determine His will?

“For whatever is not of faith is sin” (Romans. 14:23),
and “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans. 10:17)

We live by faith, we obey God and His Word, we hear his message...and His message is the Gospel and the message is JESUS!

"When the devil had finished all this tempting,

he left him until an opportune time."

Notice that the devil will attack sometimes in our weakest moments and sometimes even right after a victory. He attacks at what is most adventageous to his plan...and most harmful to us.

Summary of the Temptations

· Satan questioned the FATHER’S LOVE when he tempted Jesus to turn stones into bread.
· Satan questioned the FATHER’S HOPE when he offered Jesus the world's kingdoms this side of the cross .

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
Hebrews 12:1-3

· Satan questioned the FATHER’S FAITHFULNESS when he asked Jesus to jump from the temple and prove that the Father would keep His promise.

The enemy attacked the 3 basic virtues of the Christian life—

FAITH, HOPE, & LOVE

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.
But the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:33

FAITH, HOPE, & LOVE…
They remain today…because of Jesus…and what He did for us in the desert…and on the cross.

LOSE Your Pride, LIVE your life, and LOVE the Lord

Questions to Discuss:

1. What is the essence of the third temptation, to throw oneself down from the temple? How do we face this temptation today?



2. Did Jesus have any special powers at his disposal to resist temptation that Christians today don't have?



3. What lessons about how to resist temptation does Jesus teach us disciples in this passage?



4. In what situations are you sometimes tempted to put the Lord to the test?