The Anointing to Proclaim Good News

And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4: 16-21).

After the wilderness temptation, the Holy Spirit empowered and led Jesus to teach throughout Galilee. Soon He came to Nazareth, His hometown. He followed the customary and familiar pattern of going to the synagogue on the Sabbath and He took His turn at reading from the scriptures that were handed to Him. The Spirit, who inspired the prophet Isaiah to write about the Christ, led the Christ to the words written about Him. Diligent disciples recognize here an important exhortation. Because Christ lives in us (see Colossians 1:27) we also have the anointing to proclaim good news.

The good news is for the poor. The Greek word translated poor here is ptōchos and it means beggar or pauper. It is an accurate description of everyone’s life without hope beyond this material world… “For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked” (Revelation 3:17). The good news is that in Christ we have an eternal inheritance… “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:3-4).

The good news is for the captives. The Greek word translated captives here is aichmalōtos and it means prisoner of war. It is an accurate description of everyone who is controlled by sin… “I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members” (Romans 7:23). The good news is that we can be set free through faith in Christ… “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36).

The good news is for the blind. The Greek word translated blind here is typhlos and it means physical, mental, or spiritual opaqueness, smokiness, or inability to see clearly. It is an accurate description of everyone who cannot understand spiritual truth… “The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4). The good news is that the grace of Christ enables us to see and respond to the gospel’s soul-saving truth… “Jesus said, ‘For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind’” (John 9:39).

The good news is for the oppressed. The Greek word translated oppressed here is thrauō and it means bruised or crushed. It is an accurate description of everyone afflicted by sickness and death that are consequences of sin… “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). The good news is Christ offers us a new, eternal life… “But the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

The good news is all about the Lord’s favor. The Greek word translated favor here is dektos and it means acceptance, approval, endorsement, and support. Everyone has sinned against God… “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). The good news is that we can draw near to God and know we are favored by Him through Jesus Christ… “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit” (1 Peter 3:18).

As we grow up into Christ we will impact the world around us for Christ through…

The Anointing to Proclaim Good News.