After years of silent preparation – prayer, thought, the study of scripture, baptism and testing – Jesus finally goes public. But not in the way people were expecting; here, there is no talk of Israel’s political, military or theological liberation from her pagan enemies. No, instead Jesus takes upon himself the description of the servant-Messiah from the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 61.1-2) who will do the Lord’s will. This is Jesus’ personal manifesto. This is the surprising news of God’s amazing grace.
• Are you ‘amazed’ by the gracious words of Jesus?
• What would happen in your world if you had a similar manifesto to Jesus?
• Is there any reason why you can’t take vs.18 and 19 to heart, and make them your own personal manifesto?
• Are your expectations of what God ought to be doing your own or his own?
That final question is one that I continue struggle with, all too often I come with all my desires (some of which are clearly honourable!), and some quite probably have been given by God, but I spend time on my list, my desires, and He is just longing for me to just sit and learn to do what God wants to be done and then pray and do those things!
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