Whether you are in the workforce today or enjoying retirement, we all can relate to the job description. It’s that list of statements that define a position. Many employers use them, not only to clarify a job for potential workers, but as a way to evaluate if a person is fulfilling expectations.
Jesus provided us with a position description of sorts when he read an Old Testament passage in a worship service in his hometown of Nazareth. These verses described the tasks and goals of God’s Messiah. His goals must be our own.
What the Bible says …
The events of the Luke 4 passage at hand most likely took place after Jesus had been ministering for perhaps one year. Verse 23 implies Jesus had been at work for a period of time.
His return to his hometown of Nazareth drew attention: “Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him” (vv. 14-15).
His custom of attending worship services provides an excellent example for all who wish to follow him. We catch a glimpse of how these weekly worship experiences were conducted as Jesus stands to read a passage from Isaiah 61. Whether he chose the passage himself or it was the assigned passage for the day is not clear.
The tasks of the Messiah are unmistakably clear: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (vv. 18-19). The purpose of the Messiah was to preach, to announce freedom, to heal and to proclaim God’s timing of all things. In short, the Messiah would meet every human need.
The phrase “the year of the Lord’s favor” is not a reference to a calendar year, but to the period of time when God’s message of salvation would be proclaimed. Behind these words is a reference to the year of Jubilee (Leviticus 25:8-55). Once every 50 years, slaves were set free, debts were forgiven and land was returned to its original owners. Isaiah may have seen the future return of Babylonian captives when he wrote his words. Jesus, no doubt, saw the promise of forgiveness from sin for those who would call upon the name of the Lord.
Jesus declared he was the Messiah when he said “this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (v. 21). His statement caused much confusion and dissension among those who attended the service that Sabbath day.
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What the Bible means to me today …
In any job description, we find ourselves excited and eager to fulfill some of the expectations that come with the work. We also find areas of responsibility we would just as soon ignore.
Those who follow Jesus examine his purpose and have a mixed reaction. We are in total agreement with the idea of setting sinners free, of preaching and proclaiming God’s word. But when we take a closer look at all who need Jesus, we ignore the very ones who need him most: the poor, the prisoners, the sick and the oppressed. We find it easy and popular to agree with the Messiah’s purpose and goals until we realize what it might cost us.
An obvious failing on our part centers upon the work of the Holy Spirit within us. Go back and take a close look at the passage at hand. Jesus returned to Galilee in the “power of the Spirit” (v. 14). The Isaiah text read in the synagogue service that day began with the words, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me” (v. 18). Yet we ignore the clear teaching of the Bible and proceed to do the Messiah’s work in our own strength. We feel free to amend the job description of the Messiah in order to guarantee our own success in doing his work. All the words and works of Jesus’ ministry were lashed to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
When we fail and falter, we must go back and review why we do what we do. Luke 7 provides an important reminder. John the Baptist finds himself in prison. In a moment of uncertainty, he sends messengers to Jesus asking, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else” (7:20)? How does Jesus respond? “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised and the good news is preached to the poor” (7:22). Sound familiar? Heard these words before? All John needed was a reminder of his Messiah’s purpose. John’s obedience landed him in jail. I can see him smile as he heard the words of Jesus relayed to him in his prison cell.
When we second guess and wonder and get confused, we need to go back to our job description. We get traction for what we do when we refocus on what God has tasked us to accomplish. We ignore our job description at our own peril.
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