The Anointed One

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." 20 And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 And he began to say to them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." ESV Luke 4:18-21

Last week, we looked at the question that Jesus posed to the disciples; the question of the day: “Who do you say that I am?” Then, like now, there was not a shortage of opinionated answers to the question. But Peter gave the correct answer when he said: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Peter got it.

Our text above is an excerpt of a scripture reading and short sermon that Jesus delivered in His boyhood home of Nazareth near the beginning of His public ministry. The reaction of the hearers moved quickly from astonishment at His proclamation to anger at His assertion that He was indeed the Messiah; God’s Anointed One. How quickly public opinion shifts when our hopes and expectations are bruised.

Had the Nazarenes been asked the question of the day (Who do you say that I am?) the answer would most likely have been: Joseph’s son or perhaps Mary’s little boy. The Nazarenes had heard that the local lad (Jesus) had “done good.” News of His early ministry and miracles had no doubt reached home before Jesus stood to deliver the scripture reading. They even encouraged Jesus to perform a miracle for them; a show for the home crowd if you will. But Jesus did not come to entertain. Jesus came to proclaim truth. Sadly, the Nazarenes rejected the truth.

Instead of entertaining the assembled hometown crowd, Jesus boldly and confidently announced that He was the Anointed One; the same Anointed One that the prophet Isaiah had spoken of and the one who would proclaim a season of favor from God. (If you go back and read the text in Isaiah (61:1-2) you’ll note that Jesus stopped mid sentence. The “year of the Lord’s favor” will be followed by a “day of vengeance of our God.” Perhaps Jesus stopped where he did because that day is yet to come. But this season of favor will not last forever.)

Much could be said of Jesus’ earthly commission based on this text, but let’s look at only one point. As the Anointed One, notice what Jesus came to do. He came to reconcile. Notice the language that he uses to describe His ministry: good news, liberty, sight, favor. Jesus was indeed the Anointed One who came that we might be reconciled with God the Father and again enjoy harmony and oneness with Him that was ruined when man sinned in Eden.

Jesus declared it; I am the Anointed One. Peter got it; “you are the Christ;” the Nazarenes missed it. Do you get it? Who do you say that Jesus is?