Read: Isaiah 61:1-3; Luke 4:16-19

Some passages, such as this one in Isaiah, are called Messianic because they point to and predict the coming Messiah. Isaiah wrote this hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth, but it pointed to a future time, when the Messiah would appear.

When Jesus was asked to speak in the synagogue, he chose this passage to announce his arrival as the long awaited Messiah.

What does this tell us about Jesus’ mission on earth? What did he really come to do? Here’s what I see…

First, he brings Good News! The good news is this…no longer will you be subject to the authority of the evil one. His reign is over and the kingdom of God is here. It is the time of the Lord’s favor.

Secondly, he comforts the brokenhearted. Sin damages the most tender part of who we are – our hearts. Not our physical hearts that pump blood, but the center of our emotions and mental wellness.

He releases the captives and sets prisoners free. We are free from sickness, oppression, slavery to sin and fear of death are a mark of his presence.

What part of his mission is absent from your life right now? He isn’t a great teacher, or a great prophet – he is the Son of God. God incarnate. The exact representation of God. And when we join his family, we are a child with full rights. So, go ahead. Tell him what you need. And then watch him move mountains!