The Spirit of the Lord was on Jesus

Luke 4:18-19

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

After returning from the wilderness, the first public message we know about was the one we are reading today. Isn’t it interesting that he selected the passage from the scroll of Isaiah that had been prophesied of Him 700 years earlier? See Isaiah 61:1-2.

Notice the first phrase. Jesus Himself recognized how important it was for Him to acknowledge the true source of His anointing and power. He knew His mission and publicly declared it.

Aren’t you glad the Spirit of the Lord was on Him to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and to set the oppressed free!?!? The first time I read this in prison my heart was full of wonder and overflowing with gratitude. Do you feel it?

If we are to be successful followers of Christ, and do the type of works He did, we must realize our same source of power is His Holy Spirit. God has a plan uniquely designed for each of us. He does not want us to try to accomplish it in our own strength, but in the Spirit of the Lord.

TODAY’S CHALLENGE:

Ask the Father to show you His plan for you today right where you are. Tell Him you do not have the power within yourself, but you know His Spirit is upon you!

Dive Deeper: Study Luke 4:14-44; Isaiah 61; Acts 2:22, 32; Acts 10:37-38.