THE STORY OF JESUS #2: THE MINISTRY OF JESUS THE ANOINTED ONE
INTRO TO THE STORY OF JESUS:
Last week, we looked at the story of the birth of Jesus.
We don’t know much about His early life. At age 12, He was in God’s House studying the Word.
At 30, He was baptized and then tempted by the devil, and began His ministry.
Someone said once, “Preaching is easy – it’s just bragging on Jesus until He shows up!”
THE VISITATION:
“Through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us.” (Luke 1:78).
• Visit: “to look upon or after, to inspect, examine with the eyes in order to see how he is; to visit; to look upon in order to help or benefit; to look after, have care for, provide for.”
• We don’t just want to learn facts about Jesus, we want to experience His visitation today!
• PRAYER: Visit us Lord! Rend the Heavens and come down!
JESUS IS THE CHRIST, THE ANOINTED ONE:
“14 Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region. 15 And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. 16 So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: 18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." 20 Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." 22 So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth.” (Luke 4:14-22a).
• Here we learn that Jesus is the Christ, the Anointed One.
• The Greek word Christ is the same as the Hebrew word Messiah = the Anointed One.
• The Holy Spirit came on Him for a purpose: “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” (Acts 10:38).
• “For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.” (1 Cor. 4:20).
• Christianity isn’t just about telling stories; it’s about encountering the anointed Jesus!
EXPERIENCING THE SEVEN-FOLD MINISTRY OF JESUS:
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” (Isaiah 61:1-3).
1. JESUS IS ANOINTED TO PREACH GOOD NEWS TO THE POOR:
Who are the poor? The poor, weak, needy, humble and meek.
Luke 5:30-32 Example: Jesus calls Levi, a tax collector, to follow Him.
• Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt. 5:3).
• “And their scribes and the Pharisees complained against His disciples, saying, "Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" Jesus answered and said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” (v.30-32).
• Are you poor, weak and needy? Jesus is calling YOU! You can be SAVED and forgiven!
2. JESUS IS ANOINTED TO HEAL THE BROKEN HEARTED:
Who are the brokenhearted? Those who are broken down; torn violently, wrecked or crushed.
Luke 7:38-50 Example: Jesus forgives a sinful woman at Simon the Pharisee’s house.
• “And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil.” (v. 37-38).
• This broken-hearted woman encountered Jesus, and she was changed forever!
• Are you broken-hearted? If you come to Jesus today, He can heal that brokenness!
• Jesus added that He came to “proclaim the recovery of sight to the blind.” (4:18).
• Jesus heals broken hearts, but He also heals broken bodies as well!
3. JESUS IS ANOINTED TO PROCLAM LIBERTY TO THE CAPTIVES:
Who are the captives? Those bound by addictions, bad habits, anxieties, compulsions, etc.
• Luke 8:26-39 Example: Jesus delivers a demon possessed man in the Gadarenes.
• This man’s life was so messed up he was alone, naked, and cut himself (see Mark 5:5).
• “Then they went out to see what had happened, and came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid…” Jesus said: “Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you.” (v. 35,39).
• Are you bound by addictions, drugs, alcohol, fears or…? Jesus can set you free!
4. JESUS IS ANOINTED TO COMFORT THOSE WHO MOURN:
Who are the mourning? Those who have lost loved ones, or just struggle with depression.
Luke 7:11-16 Example: Jesus comforts a widow who is grieving the loss of her son.
• “Now it happened, the day after, that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and a large crowd. And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her. When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep." Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, "Young man, I say to you, arise." So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother. Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has risen up among us"; and, "God has visited His people.” (v.11-16).
• Are you grieving or mourning? Jesus wants to comfort you!
5. JESUS IS ANOINTED TO GIVE BEAUTY FOR ASHES:
Luke 5:12-16 Example: Jesus cleanses a leper.
• “And it happened when He was in a certain city, that behold, a man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” (5:12).
• Here was a man whose life was ashes – because of this skin-disease, he was alone, lonely and isolated. But Jesus is anointed to give beauty for ashes!
• “Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." Immediately the leprosy left him.” (v.13).
• Is your life a pile of smoldering ashes? Jesus wants to make your life beautiful!
6. JESUS IS ANOINTED TO GIVE THE OIL OF JOY FOR MOURNING:
Luke 19:1-10 Example: Jesus brings joy and salvation to Zacchaeus’ house.
• Jesus said to Zacchaeus, “I want to come to your house for a visit!” (v.5).
• “So (Zach) made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully.” (v.6).
• When Jesus comes for a visit, it is like the oil of joy!
7. JESUS GIVES THE GARMENT OF PRAISE FOR THE SPIRIT OF HEAVINESS:
Luke 8:43-48 Example: Jesus brings healing to a woman with the issue of blood.
• “Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any.” (v.43).
• This woman had a spirit of heaviness – spent all her money on doctors, but no change.
• She “came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped.” (v.44).
THE RESULT: What happens when we experience Jesus the anointed one?
“That they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” (Isaiah 61:3).
• When we are planted in the house of the Lord we flourish.
o It’s so important to be a part of the local church – Jesus is building His church!
• Every time people encountered Jesus and their lives were changed, God was glorified.
THE BIG IDEA: Because Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever, we can expect to experience a visitation of the Lord in our lives today!
PRAYER: For people to encounter a fresh visitation of JESUS THE CHRIST!
• Jesus will save you, forgive your sins, heal your broken hearts and bodies, set you free!
Church Website: www.beausejourchurch.ca
Pastor’s Blog: http://pastorchrisjordan.wordpress.com/
