Devotion:
Read Luke 4:16-21.
After his baptism in the Jordan River, Jesus went into a lonely, desolate place to pray and to determine how he would use his awesome powers. After resisting each of the devil’s temptations to use them for the wrong reasons, Jesus returned to Galilee and began his ministry. His popularity grew, and he was invited to speak and teach in synagogues. In today’s reading, Jesus had returned to his hometown of Nazareth and was invited to speak in their synagogue on the Sabbath.
Jesus intentionally searched the scroll of Isaiah until he came to what we have numbered as Isaiah 61:1-2 and read it aloud. These verses initially described the role of the prophet, but in a much larger sense, they outline the mission of the messiah. Jesus left no doubt that this is his mission as the Christ: proclaiming the good news to the poor, bringing freedom and healing, and resisting oppression. We can imagine how his audience saw him...a village child grown up, Joseph’s son, a carpenter. They struggled to see him as the Christ, the Son of God. We too must allow the baby to grow up and to take on his mission as our own.
Personal Worship Option:
Reflect on your thoughts and images of Jesus. Think about some of his most difficult teachings and let those confront and perhaps change your images of Jesus as the Christ, fully grown, resurrected, and having promised to return.
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