“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;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” (Luke 4:18-19, Isaiah 61:1-2)
“Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” But he knew their hearts and soon they tried to throw him over a cliff, but he passed through the midst of them, v.20-30. This is how Jesus's ministry begins; baptized by John, tempted in the desert, and rejected in his hometown. At thirty years old his ministry begins and lasts only three years. John the baptist's public ministry was only months, but Jesus said of John, "among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater" (Matthew 11:11).
Isaiah speaks of the coming Servant, the light to the gentiles, "I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles,that You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth" (Isaiah 61:6). He existed in the form of God; humbling himself he took on the form of a bond-servant, becoming like man (Philippians 2:6). He came not to bring peace but a sword (Matthew 10:34), "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God"(Ephesians 6:17). "And he has made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand he has hidden me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver he has hidden me" (Isaiah 61:6). A quiver is a container for arrows, a polished shaft being the shaft of an arrow. He comes as a sharp sword and arrow finely crafted and polished, hidden until ready to be pulled forth for service.
God crafts and polishes his servants for his service and purpose. There may be many years of fire and tempering to produce the fine blade for service, much polishing of a arrow so it flies true. While we might be a mighty sword swung in battle many times, we could be an arrow used once to pierce the very king of Tyre. Here on earth we will never know of the many great battles fought for the kingdom of God. Lest we forget, "many who are first will be last, and the last first" (Matthew 19:30).
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;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” (Luke 4:18-19, Isaiah 61:1-2)
“Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” But he knew their hearts and soon they tried to throw him over a cliff, but he passed through the midst of them, v.20-30. This is how Jesus's ministry begins; baptized by John, tempted in the desert, and rejected in his hometown. At thirty years old his ministry begins and lasts only three years. John the baptist's public ministry was only months, but Jesus said of John, "among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater" (Matthew 11:11).
Isaiah speaks of the coming Servant, the light to the gentiles, "I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles,that You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth" (Isaiah 61:6). He existed in the form of God; humbling himself he took on the form of a bond-servant, becoming like man (Philippians 2:6). He came not to bring peace but a sword (Matthew 10:34), "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God"(Ephesians 6:17). "And he has made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand he has hidden me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver he has hidden me" (Isaiah 61:6). A quiver is a container for arrows, a polished shaft being the shaft of an arrow. He comes as a sharp sword and arrow finely crafted and polished, hidden until ready to be pulled forth for service.
God crafts and polishes his servants for his service and purpose. There may be many years of fire and tempering to produce the fine blade for service, much polishing of a arrow so it flies true. While we might be a mighty sword swung in battle many times, we could be an arrow used once to pierce the very king of Tyre. Here on earth we will never know of the many great battles fought for the kingdom of God. Lest we forget, "many who are first will be last, and the last first" (Matthew 19:30).