Friday 3 November 2023

Luke 4:14-22

¹⁴ Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. ¹⁵ He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.

¹⁶ He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, ¹⁷ and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

¹⁸ “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,
¹⁹ to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

²⁰ Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. ²¹ He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

²² All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked.

Jesus comes in the power of the Spirit and a report went out among the area around Galilee.  Jesus has been baptised. The Holy Spirit filled him at His baptism, He is lead into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil and now Jesus returns to Galilee, where He was well known.

What is the report – Jesus returns in the power of the Spirit.  There must have been something quite obvious about Jesus that was different to when He left, because a report circulated about Him.  What is the report that would be told of you after you have been baptised and baptised in the Holy Spirit.  Is the life change that Baptism brings so powerful in you that others take note and make a report…

Father, may I live a life so filled with Your Spirit that others report how magnificent You are!!

Written by Ps. Richard Botta