Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert …
Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit …
The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me …”
(verses 1, 14, 17-18)
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Just shortly before this, rising dripping wet from his baptism in the Jordan, Jesus has been visibly anointed with the Spirit of God, descending on him like a dove. This is the springboard for all of the Spirit-activity of chapter 4 – indeed it is a window into the Spirit-activity present in Jesus’ ministry in every succeeding chapter of the Gospel story.
Jesus is empowered by the Spirit. He is filled, full to overflowing. He is led in paths of the Spirit’s direction. He is anointed, the Spirit flowing like rich oil.
I sometimes skip over this. I am so aware that Jesus is the divine Son, the second Person of the Trinity, that I am dull to the reality of the Spirit’s empowering presence in his life. Yes, he is the Son of God, but he is also fully enveloped in the Spirit’s presence.
Peter, as reported by Luke, understood this. Preaching his first sermon to a Gentile audience, he declares, “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and … he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him” (Acts 10:38).
If I am “in Christ,” then this insight becomes a model for my everyday walk. It urges me to have eyes open to the empowering of the Spirit of Jesus, watching for his lead, confident of his presence, taking each step in submission to his anointing.
Jesus was led into the desert of temptation. It is only by Holy-Spirit-empowerment that I, too, have hope of endurance. So lean in.
Jesus was anointed for kingdom ministry of release and healing. The same empowering Spirit is mine in Christ. Have faith for the greater things. Lean in.
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Spirit of Jesus, I see your presence in the life of my Lord. I welcome you here this day, in this journey, to anoint and empower me, too.
Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me.
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Do:
Memorize the first 2 lines of Luke 4:18 (“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me”). Recite it to yourself all day (and for the next several days). Receive it, in Jesus. Live it, in him.
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Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash
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