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?
