Jesus’ Public Ministry
Then Jesus went back to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and the news about Him spread through the entire region. And He began teaching in their synagogues and was praised and glorified andhonored by all.
So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me (the Messiah),
Because He has anointed Me to preach the good news to the poor.
He has sent Me to announce release (pardon, forgiveness) to the captives,
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set free those who are oppressed (downtrodden, bruised, crushed by tragedy), to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord [the day when salvation and the favor of God abound greatly].”
Then He rolled up the scroll [having stopped in the middle of the verse], gave it back to the attendant and sat down [to teach]; and the eyes of all those in the synagogue were [attentively] fixed on Him. He began speaking to them: “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing and in your presence.” (Luke 4:14-21 AMP)
REFLECTION
Jesus’ ministry causes me to marvel, even when life is messy. Life is marvellous and messy. And in order for us to fully experience what is marvellous, we need to be willing to prayerfully work through the mess. For example: when something or someone triggers intense emotion, we can choose to dismiss it with distractions and excuses (which only delays, deepens and exacerbates the inevitable pain of dealing with the human condition) or we can take our messy situation and emotions to our merciful Maker in honest prayer, and when we do the latter we can trust Him to help us take the trail from the point of trigger to the root reason(s), where deep healing can happen (in His higher way and timing). And – because not one of us is perfect – we are all in need of ongoing healing and transformation. We all have broken parts, which is why Jesus came. The good news is that we can come to Jesus as we are and enter into the ongoing process of healing and transformation. I can testify that, in Christ, it is possible to truly heal and transform (from the inside out). Is it always easy? No. Is it worthwhile? Yes. It’s an arduous and amazing adventure, that cannot be taken alone…we need Jesus (who is the Head) and the Body of Christ (the Church) to be able to truly heal and transform.
PRAYER POEM: Restoring Redeemer
JESUS – Healer of hearts – You know the real reasons why I weep, so to You I give my heart to keep.
Great Shepherd of the sheep – the One who knows not slumber nor sleep, there is no sorrow too deep, nor mountain too steep, no need You cannot meet, no foe You cannot defeat.
Restoring Redeemer – before You alone I kneel, for You reveal and heal what the enemy cannot steal – to You my life I bring and sing: Jesus Christ – Healer of my heart, my Conquering King!
