By Tyshawn Gardner, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Biblical and Religious Studies, Samford University
THE MISSION OF JESUS
Luke 3:1–6; 4:14–21
John prepared the way for Jesus’ mission. (3:1–6)
Since God’s providential plan in the opening chapters of Genesis, God has been faithful to His promise and purpose for redemption. In Genesis 3, God promised that the seed of the woman would crush the head of the serpent. Rightly interpreted, this passage means that God has a plan to bring triumph over sin and evil.
As the redemptive plan of God unfolds, Malachi 4:5–6 provides a sneak peek into an even more revealing prophecy: “Look, I am going to send you the prophet Elijah before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes. And He will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers. Otherwise, I will come and strike the land with a curse.” Adherents of the Jewish faith still hold out hope for the appearance of Elijah.
However, according to Jesus, John the Baptist has fulfilled Malachi’s prophecy. According to Luke, John the Baptist prepared the way for the prophetic and redemptive mission of Jesus Christ. The message of John the Baptist announcing the inauguration of the Messiah is a message of hope and judgment.
Isaiah prophesied the purpose of Jesus’ mission. (4:14–19)
Isaiah prophesies the mission of the Messiah as one of justice and equality for all people. In Luke 3:5–6, John the Baptist echoes these prophecies from Isaiah 40 by preaching, “Every valley will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be made low, and the crooked will become straight, the rough ways smooth, and everyone will see the salvation of God.”
According to Isaiah, the coming Messiah would not only bridge the gap between humanity and God, but He would also preach the justice and righteousness of God as the ethical and moral standards of the coming Kingdom.
As Isaiah announced hope for God’s people living in the oppressive conditions of exile, Jesus continues the ministry of the prophets as one who heralds the bright days of hope for God’s people languishing under Roman occupation and domination. By prophesying the purpose of the coming Messiah, Isaiah is signaling the coming reign of the Kingdom of God.
The church that follows the Messiah must also take up the mantle of proclaiming the justice and righteousness of God for people beset by injustice. This is a part of the mission of Christ.
Jesus declared that He is the long-awaited Messiah. (4:20–21)
After standing in the middle of the synagogue on the Sabbath day and reading from the scroll of Isaiah to publish good news to the poor and liberty to the captives and to those who are oppressed, Jesus declares that He is the long-awaited Messiah.
For all who first heard those hopeful words read and to all who hear them now, the promise of God to the weak, poor and oppressed is the good news of the Kingdom of God. The gospel is good news to the poor, the brokenhearted and the marginalized, and that message and mission is brought to the world by Jesus Christ, the Messiah.
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