In the passage that we have today, Jesus has commenced his ministry in Galilee after returning from his time of testing in the wilderness. During those 40 days Jesus’ character, and how he will perform his ministry in relation to the temptations of unbridled earthly power, authority, wealth, and risk has all been tested (4:1–12). Filled with divine power and performing miracles Jesus’ reputation begins to quickly spread throughout the province as he now returns to his home town in Galilee to visit the Synagogue.

In the synagogue, Jesus reads from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. The passage He chooses is from Isaiah 61, which speaks of the anointed one coming to bring good news to the poor, freedom for the prisoners, sight for the blind, and release for the oppressed. Jesus declares that this prophecy is fulfilled in their hearing. He is the one sent to bring the Kingdom of God to earth, to heal, to restore, and to liberate.

The reading is an important reminder to us that following Jesus does not conclude with our own initial commitment to Christ. Instead, it continues in the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit, as we continuously learn and grow in grace and holiness, and as we engage in the transformative work of God in the world. Just as Jesus’ ministry began with the empowerment of the Spirit, so too must our life-long journey as disciples. Without the help of the Holy Spirit, we cannot live out the mission Jesus has called us to. It is the Spirit who equips, guides, and sustains us, leading us out of our comfort zones and our own
self-centred concerns into Kingdom values and Kingdom concerns.

As Jesus reads from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah, he proclaims fulfilment of the prophecy in their hearing; that the Kingdom of God had come in Jesus for the poor, the blind, the captive and the oppressed. The message Jesus delivers reveals the mission of the Messiah and the priorities of God’s Kingdom. As disciples of Christ, we are invited to align our lives with His mission, seeking justice, mercy and compassion; to proclaim good news to the poor and marginalised; to work for freedom and justice for those oppressed; bring healing and hope to those who are suffering; and to reflect the light of Christ in a dark world. As disciples, we are invited to join in God’s Kingdom work by being active participants in its unfolding in real time. By living according to the values of the Kingdom—justice, mercy, humility—we help to make God’s Kingdom visible to those who are around us.

It is important to recognise that Christian discipleship is about living in the already-but-not-yet Kingdom of God. Jesus has inaugurated the Kingdom, but its complete fullness will not be realised until His return. As disciples, we live in the tension of this reality, as we work for the Kingdom, as members of it, we also long for its full establishment on Earth.

At a time of uncertainty and instability in world affairs, to know that we can rely on God’s sovereignty and the promise of the Kingdom being revealed in Christ is not only a great comfort but a reminder; a reminder that we are called to live differently in the light of God’s Kingdom and to follow Jesus with the help of the Holy Spirit. Christ calls us to work for his Kingdom of justice, mercy, peace, and love. He also warns us to avoid the temptations that would lead us into selfishness and the oppression of others. So may God fill us with his Holy Spirit, to share in his ongoing work of healing and redemption in a broken world, and may our lives reflect Christ’s love and grace, as we journey with our Lord Jesus.