Facts were cold hard things. He had hidden his real identity; he had buried the past; he had risen on stepping-stones of his dead self to honest useful service; he had earned peace and victory, if not real happiness.”
–Zane Grey (Nevada)
“For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God.”
–2 Corinthians 9:12 (NKJV)
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16 — So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.
17 — And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:
18 — “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed;
19 — To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.”
20 — Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him.
21 — And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
–Luke 4:16-21(NKJV)
Can you imagine the stir this caused? I would have liked to see the faces of those in the room, from normal people to those men of the law. This is the major turning point in the life of Jesus. Yes, He was called. Yes, He had been baptized and the Spirit had come upon Him. However, all of that could have been put aside until He proclaimed that the prophecy of Isaiah was now fulfilled.
Jesus was all about His mission; He never deterred from that. However, part of that mission was to be of service. Look at the above verses again; it is service-oriented. Service was the center of His whole spiritual journey. He worshiped His father in the synagogue, but also in the wilderness, but even more so among the people to which He ministered. John records the words of Jesus, “If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me.” (John 10:37, NKJV).
He ministered to the children, not wanting any of them to perish (Matthew 18:14); when He prayed He remembered His friends who needed help and guidance. He healed the sick, the wounded, the lame, the leper, the blind, and cast out demons. He also ministered to the spiritual needs of those He came in contact with. Yes, this is worship. Too often in our day we think of worship as singing and praise, and maybe hopping around the front of the church, and that may be worship. However, the closest term in the New Testament to “worship” is that of “service. We worship when we obey His commandments, and what are they? “Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'” (Matthew 22:37-39, NKJV)
Love to God equals service to God–that is worship. Love to your neighbor equals service to your neighbor–that is worship. “His public worship, His faith in God, His private prayer, His eternal hope, and His transfigured hours all centered round and issued in a devoted life of helpfulness to people.” (H.E. Fosdick) We must not miss the meaning and purpose of Jesus’ life for it is to be ours as well.
Much more could be said regarding the verses in Luke, but this will suffice for today. Study them closely, look at them seriously, and regard how they should affect your lives. In my reading I came across a prayer from the Gelasian Sacramentary which is supposed to be the second oldest western liturgical book. “O Thou, who art the Light of the minds that know Thee, the Life of the souls that love Thee, and the Strength of the thoughts that seek Thee; help us so to know Thee, that we may truly love Thee, so to love Thee that we may fully serve Thee, whose service is perfect freedom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.”
————————————
16 — So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.
17 — And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:
18 — “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed;
19 — To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.”
20 — Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him.
21 — And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
–Luke 4:16-21(NKJV)
Can you imagine the stir this caused? I would have liked to see the faces of those in the room, from normal people to those men of the law. This is the major turning point in the life of Jesus. Yes, He was called. Yes, He had been baptized and the Spirit had come upon Him. However, all of that could have been put aside until He proclaimed that the prophecy of Isaiah was now fulfilled.
Jesus was all about His mission; He never deterred from that. However, part of that mission was to be of service. Look at the above verses again; it is service-oriented. Service was the center of His whole spiritual journey. He worshiped His father in the synagogue, but also in the wilderness, but even more so among the people to which He ministered. John records the words of Jesus, “If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me.” (John 10:37, NKJV).
He ministered to the children, not wanting any of them to perish (Matthew 18:14); when He prayed He remembered His friends who needed help and guidance. He healed the sick, the wounded, the lame, the leper, the blind, and cast out demons. He also ministered to the spiritual needs of those He came in contact with. Yes, this is worship. Too often in our day we think of worship as singing and praise, and maybe hopping around the front of the church, and that may be worship. However, the closest term in the New Testament to “worship” is that of “service. We worship when we obey His commandments, and what are they? “Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'” (Matthew 22:37-39, NKJV)
Love to God equals service to God–that is worship. Love to your neighbor equals service to your neighbor–that is worship. “His public worship, His faith in God, His private prayer, His eternal hope, and His transfigured hours all centered round and issued in a devoted life of helpfulness to people.” (H.E. Fosdick) We must not miss the meaning and purpose of Jesus’ life for it is to be ours as well.
Much more could be said regarding the verses in Luke, but this will suffice for today. Study them closely, look at them seriously, and regard how they should affect your lives. In my reading I came across a prayer from the Gelasian Sacramentary which is supposed to be the second oldest western liturgical book. “O Thou, who art the Light of the minds that know Thee, the Life of the souls that love Thee, and the Strength of the thoughts that seek Thee; help us so to know Thee, that we may truly love Thee, so to love Thee that we may fully serve Thee, whose service is perfect freedom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.”