Great Plains Daily Devotional for 1/24/2022

Luke 4:14-21

Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.

When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
    because he has anointed me
        to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
    and recovery of sight to the blind,
        to let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

In today's gospel reading, we see the opening of Jesus' ministry. He has just returned from the wilderness and the temptations he faced there.

Jesus begins to preach, and people are drawn to him.  

In this passage, Jesus does what was expected of teachers in first century Palestine. He reads the scripture — this one from Isaiah 61 — and then makes a proclamation that serves as the launching point, His "launch statement," for His ministry. It's just nine words long: “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

Whether clergy or lay, in 10 words or less, what is your "launch statement" for your ministry today?

Share your thoughts on these questions or this scripture on our Facebook page.  We look forward to seeing what discussions come up!

Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10
Psalm 19
1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
Luke 4:14-21