Today’s Devotional Theme
The Anointed
Daily Scripture
Isaiah 61:1-2
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of theLord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn.”
Encouragement
He is anointed. Some Bible students opine that “He” refers to a prophet contemporary with Isaiah – perhaps Ezra. Now to Nazareth and Luke 4:16-20. Jesus, just starting his ministry, is standing in the synagogue. The leader hands Him a scroll, which the Son of God unrolls to the prophet Isaiah. Jesus reads the passage in today’s scripture. He rolls up the scroll, hands it back to the synagogue leader, and sits down. He explains who is really anointed in the following verses. “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your ears... No prophet is accepted in his own country…” Jesus emphasizes that Israel had a history of mistreating her prophets. By mentioning the widow from Sidon and a Syrian leper who accepted the ministry of Elijah and Elisha, Jesus drives home the point that because the Hebrews turned their backs on these men of God, He sent the prophets to minister to two Gentiles. Jesus’ words of condemnation do not go well. His audience in the synagogue is “filled with wrath”, Luke 4:28. The residents of His home town try to kill Him, but He escapes their clutches and leaves, perhaps for the last time.
Take Action!
It was a custom in Israel to anoint – mashach– a new king with fragrant oil poured over his head, running down his beard, over his shoulders... the anointed one was a mashiyach– from which comes our word Messiah. The magi came from the east to worship the new King and present him with gifts worthy of a king in Matthew chapter 2. Now the Messiah has anointed us a nation or kingdom of kings and priests, Revelation 1:6, 5:10. What must we do with our anointing? The answer is found in today’s verses: minister to the halt, the lame, the brokenhearted, to bring hope to those overcome with grief – and to proclaim the grace of Jesus to as many as will listen.
Come into His Presence
Our Lord Who is touched with the feelings of our infirmities, thank you for pouring that fragrant oil over our heads and anointing us to carry on the work you did while You were in the world. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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