The Mission of Jesus
After 40 days in the wilderness doing battle with the devil, Jesus launches his public ministry. He takes Isaiah 61 as his personal mission statement — “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor” — a remarkable passage to claim as his own! But when Jesus begins to explain what he means by it — that he’s come to bring God’s kingdom to outsiders, religious failures, and spiritual lepers — the whole synagogue of church folks are filled with wrath and attempt to toss him off a cliff. But Jesus has come to bring the kingdom of God to the least, last, and lowest, and he will not be deterred. He passes through the angry mob and gets right to work healing the sick, freeing the captives, and proclaiming the good news of God’s grace. Its an explosive start!
Questions for Discussion
Read Luke 4 this week, paying special attention to v.18-19. What is Jesus saying by quoting this text from Isaiah
As you look at the text, who are the poor, the captives, the blind, and the oppressed that he’s come to bring good news?
The main contrast of the text is between the complacent church goers (who miss out on the kingdom) and the sick, diseased, and demonized people (who experience the in-breaking of the kingdom!). Who do you more identify with, and why?
Why is God’s kingdom is always moving toward the margins, the needy, and the outsiders? What’s the deal with that?!
Read v.38-39, the story of Simon’s mother-in-law. Where have you experienced the healing of Jesus? And how has that healing freed you to serve?
October 9, 2022 - Steve Hart