CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

A. TRANSFORMATIVE JOURNEY OF JESUS CHRIST (LUKE 4:16-21)

Today’s lesson, we will explore the significance of this passage and its impact on Jesus’
mission. We will examine how this transformative moment challenges us to understand our roles
and responsibilities as followers of Christ and how it invites us to participate in His ongoing
mission of transformation in our own lives and communities. Through this exploration, we will
gain a deeper appreciation for the revolutionary nature of Jesus’ message and its relevance to
our faith today.

“16 And 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 for to read.

17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. 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 hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the
poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and
recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of
all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.

21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.”

Luke 4:16-21 is a passage from the New Testament of the Bible where Jesus returns to
Nazareth, His hometown, and reads from the book of Isaiah in the synagogue. Here’s a
breakdown of the passage and its significance:

1. Context and Reading (Luke 4:16-17):

Jesus goes to the synagogue on the Sabbath, as was His custom. He stands up to read and is
handed the scroll of the prophet Isaiah.

He reads Isaiah 61:1-2, which speaks of the coming of the Messiah who will bring good news to
the poor, freedom for prisoners, sight for the blind, and release for the oppressed.

2. Jesus’ Declaration (Luke 4:18-19):

After reading, Jesus rolls up the scroll, hands it back, and sits down. The eyes of everyone in the
synagogue are on Him, and He begins to say, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
By declaring that He is the fulfillment of this prophecy, Jesus is identifying Himself as the
Messiah, the Anointed One who brings liberation and healing as foretold in Isaiah.

3. Reactions and Implications (Luke 4:20-21):

The reaction of the congregation is initially one of amazement and wonder at the gracious words
coming from Jesus.
However, this declaration is also controversial because Jesus is making a bold claim about His
identity and mission, which will later lead to conflict with many, including the religious leaders of
the time.

Significance:
Messianic Mission: Jesus is presenting Himself as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy,
highlighting His role in bringing about God’s promised salvation and restoration.
Inclusivity of Jesus’ Mission: The passage underscores that Jesus’ mission is to address the
needs of the poor, the captive, the blind, and the oppressed, reflecting a vision of social and
spiritual justice.
Challenge and Opposition: While Jesus’ proclamation is a message of hope, it also sets the
stage for opposition as it challenges existing religious and social norms.
This passage is crucial because it encapsulates the essence of Jesus’ mission and sets the tone
for His ministry, focusing on transformation and redemption for all people.

Our text gives tells us about the mission of Christ. His mission was to reach out to the
poor, to deliver the captives, to restore sight to the blind, and to lift up the downtrodden. This
mission is as relevant today as it was then. We should commit ourselves to fulfilling His mission.
I. Preach the Gospel to the Poor
1. The Poor

Jesus is deeply concerned about poor people. Here, Jesus means those who are impoverished
economically. Does this mean that He is not concerned about the wealthy or the common people
who are not poor? No, it does not. He just did not have to express that concern here. His
audience would have understood that a leader would be concerned about those who are better
off. By focusing on the most needy, He includes all who have needs. Thus, He begins by
expressing concern for those who were despised by others.

It would not be politically correct to speak against the poor today. Yet the actions of some people
signal their contempt for them. If they only worked as hard as we do, they say, they would not be
poor. We often are not eager to bring the poor to our services. They don’t dress as well as we do.
Even in a dress casual environment, their casual clothes are not of the designer type. Unspoken,
yet this is a powerful silent testimony to a wrong attitude.

2. Your Life

What is your condition today? Are you living in poverty? Then Jesus speaks directly and simply to
you. He wants you to believe and enjoy the benefits of salvation. Are you wealthy? Jesus loves
you as well. Being His disciple is demanding. Your allegiance to Him must be stronger than to
your possessions. But the spiritual benefits are abundant.

II. Proclaim Release to the Captives

1. The Captives

Jesus is concerned about captives. According to Robertson, the captives are those who have
been captured at spear point. We can think of them as prisoners of war.

During His days on earth, Jesus was concerned primarily with those who were enslaved by Satan.
They were prisoners of Satan in a spiritual war. Millions of people today are Satan’s captives.
They are under his influence. They may be captives of habits, attitudes, and lifestyles that they
cannot control. You may be one of them.

The captives, however, are not limited to people who are in spiritual darkness. Some believers
are captives of oppressive forces. This, too, is a form of enslavement by Satan, for the
oppressors are the servants of Satan. Some researchers estimate that there are more
persecuted Christians today than ever before in the history of the church.

2. Your Life

What is your condition today? Are you enslaved by habits, by thoughts that you cannot control,
by circumstances that overpower you?

We are building an Internet ministry. The Internet can be a powerful force for good. When you
put a message on the Internet, it is available to people everywhere. We have never before had a
tool that can reach out globally as quickly as this one.

Unfortunately, evil messages can be as quickly distributed. Anyone can learn to build a bomb, for
example, and explode it in a schoolhouse or some other public place. We sometimes receive evil
invitations via email. We must ask the Lord to guard us and keep us from evil. Some Internet
users will be trapped and enslaved by this. We must be on our guard at all times.

We have good news for you. Jesus came, anointed of the Spirit, to set you free. Through the
Word and the Spirit, He still speaks to you today. You can turn to Him and be delivered. You can
live in the liberty of the truth applied to your life.

III. Proclaim Recovery of Sight to the Blind

1. The Blind

Jesus is concerned about blind people. The primary reference no doubt was to people who were
physically blind. However, we cannot overlook the spiritually blind. When you sit and listen to the
commentators of the world, the talk shows, you know that millions are spiritually blind. They
have not idea of spiritual truth. The eyes of their souls cannot see. They live in darkness.

2. Jesus
The mission of Christ was to proclaim to all who were blind that their sight could be recovered.
Once again, this proclamation is made in the power of the Spirit. The power of the Spirit brings
the power of the Kingdom of God into our lives now.

Christ opened the eyes of the spiritually blind. Many came to faith in Him and followed Him. In
addition He healed people who were physically blind. Thus, both literally and spiritually, this
proclamation was fulfilled during the days of Christ on earth.

John the Baptist was in prison wanting reassurance that Jesus was the Son of God. He sent a
messenger to Jesus asking (Mt. 11:3), “Are you the expected One, or shall we look for someone
else?” Jesus reassured John by sending his messenger back with this report (Mt. 11:5): “the
BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead
are raised up, and the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM.” NASU the evidence was
both powerful and plentiful!

3. Your Life

Today, Christ is present to heal. The recovery of sight simply meant that the person who was
blind could now see. While we seldom see people healed of physical blindness now, it does
happen. Moreover, we know that in the long run, all physically blind people will see! Moreover,
tens of thousands of people who have been spiritually blind are being set free. Jesus opens their
eyes.

What is your condition today? Have you come with skepticism? Have you closed your eyes to the
truth? Do you feel a need for someone outside of you to help you see? Cry out to Jesus. He is
here to minister to you!

IV. Set Free the Downtrodden

1. The Downtrodden

Jesus is concerned about the downtrodden. Who are they? They are the ones who have been
bruised by life. The Greek verb means to break into pieces. The bruising can be both in body and
in spirit. Many are broken and crushed spiritually and physically.

Here, Jesus refers primarily to being downtrodden and bruised by others. We are broken by their
oppression and, in a sense, are enslaved by them. What they have done to us captures us and
our attention. We must be set free from the oppresssion and the oppressors.

2. Jesus

Once again, the Spirit empowers Jesus to bring the benefits of the Kingdom of God into life on
earth. Jesus was set apart and sent by the Spirit to set at liberty those who are downtrodden and
bruised. While He was on the earth, He delivered men and women from the oppression of their
spirits and bodies.

Sometimes the deliverance comes by a change of attitude in our own hearts. Jesus challenges us
deeply with these words in Mt. 5:10-12:

10 “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil
against you because of Me.
12 “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted
the prophets who were before you. NASU

3. Your Life

How many times have you felt downtrodden and broken? The circumstances of life have taken
their toll. You don’t know whether or not you can get up and go again. Just remember that Jesus
identifies with you in every moment of brokenness. He understands.

There is a chorus that we used to sing which expresses the concern of Jesus. It goes like this:

“And Jesus said, ‘Come to the water, Stand by my side. I know you are thirsty, You won’t be
denied. I’ve felt every tear drop, when in darkness you’ve cried. And I strove to remind you that
for those tears I died.'”
 Luke 4:16-21 marks a pivotal moment in the life of Jesus, showcasing the launch of His
public ministry. In this passage, Jesus returns to His hometown of Nazareth and reads from the
scroll of Isaiah in the synagogue. His declaration that "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your
hearing" signifies the commencement of His mission and heralds a transformative message for
humanity.

REFERENCES:

 George M. Flattery, Ed.D., is the founder of Global University and Network211.

1. UNDERSTANDING JESUS’ MISSION

Jesus’ mission can be understood through two central aspects:

-Revealing God: Jesus came to fully reveal the nature and character of God.
-Redeeming Humankind: Jesus came to offer salvation and restore humanity.

Key Aspects of Jesus’ Mission

1. Revealing God

Scripture Reference: John 14:9

“Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?”
Summary: Jesus shows us what God is like through His actions, teachings, and character. He
embodies God’s love, mercy, and truth.

Scripture Reference: Hebrews 1:1-3

“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various
ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all
things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and
the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.”
Summary: Jesus is the exact representation of God and reveals His divine nature.

2. Redeeming Humankind

Scripture Reference: Luke 19:10

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Summary: Jesus’ mission includes seeking out those who are spiritually lost and offering them
salvation.

Scripture Reference: John 3:16

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him
shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Summary: Through His sacrifice, Jesus offers eternal life to all who believe in Him, redeeming
humanity from sin.

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
CHRISTIAN MINISTRY AND THE FIVE MARKS OF MISSION

NAME: DATE:
GRADE AND SECTION:
WORKSHEET 1: THE TRANSFORMATIVE JOURNEY OF JESUS CHRIST (LUKE 4:16-21)
I. Individual Reflection: Read the following scripture passages carefully. Spend a few minutes
thinking about the following questions. Write your answers in the space provided.

1. What does Jesus’ declaration tell us about His mission?

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2. How did the people in the synagogue react to Jesus’ statement?

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3. Why is this prophecy significant for understanding Jesus’ ministry?

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4. How does Jesus’ mission in Luke 4:16-21 relate to social justice issues today (e.g.,
poverty, oppression)?
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5. In what ways can we, as individuals or as a community, reflect Jesus’ mission in our
own lives?
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6. Are there specific actions or initiatives we can undertake to address the needs of
the marginalized or oppressed in our community?
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CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
CHRISTIAN MINISTRY AND THE FIVE MARKS OF MISSION

NAME: DATE:
GRADE AND SECTION:
WORKSHEET 2: JESUS’ MISSION

Activity Instructions
1. Reading and Reflection
Scripture Passages: Read the passages provided in the “Key Aspects of Jesus’ Mission” section.
Reflection Questions:
How does each passage reveal Jesus’ role in showing us God or offering redemption?
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What is the significance of these aspects of Jesus’ mission for us today?

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2. Personal Reflection and Application

Write down one way you can live out Jesus’ mission in your daily life. Consider acts of
compassion, sharing your faith, or working towards justice.
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CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
CHRISTIAN MINISTRY AND THE FIVE MARKS OF MISSION

NAME: DATE:
GRADE AND SECTION:
PERFORMANCE TASK 1

Art Project – Create a visual representation of how Jesus reveals God or redeems humankind. Use
drawing, painting, or collage. Put it in a long bond paper for drawing, long folder for painting, and
long folder for collage.

Rubric for Art Project: Visual Representation of Jesus’ Mission

 Criteria Excellent (4) Good (3) Satisfactory (2) Needs Improvement
(1)
Creativity and Highly creative and Creative and original. Somewhat creative. Limited creativity. The
Originality original. The artwork The artwork The artwork is original artwork is basic or
shows a unique demonstrates a good but lacks a distinctive conventional, with
perspective and level of inventiveness perspective or minimal originality.
inventive use of and thought. imaginative use of
materials. materials.
Connection to Strong and clear Clear connection to Some connection to Weak or unclear
Jesus’ Mission connection to either Jesus’ mission. The Jesus’ mission. The connection to Jesus’
Jesus revealing God or theme is evident but theme is present but mission. The theme is
redeeming humankind. not as deeply explored. not clearly or fully not evident or poorly
The theme is evident developed. developed.
and deeply explored.
Visual Impact Artwork is visually Artwork is visually Artwork is somewhat Artwork is visually
and Execution striking with appealing with good visually appealing but unappealing with poor
exceptional execution. execution. Effective has inconsistent execution or
Excellent use of color, use of color, execution or technique.
composition, and composition, and technique.
technique. technique.
Interpretation The message is The message is clear The message is The message is
and Message powerful and well- and well-articulated. somewhat clear but unclear or poorly
articulated. The The artwork lacks depth or articulated. The
artwork effectively communicates the effectiveness in artwork does not
communicates the intended interpretation communicating the effectively
intended interpretation with some intended communicate the
of Jesus’ mission. effectiveness. interpretation. intended
interpretation.
Effort and Demonstrates Demonstrates good Demonstrates adequate Demonstrates minimal
Presentation outstanding effort with effort with attention to effort but may lack effort or lack of
careful attention to detail. The artwork is attention to detail. The attention to detail. The
detail. The artwork is well-presented. artwork is presented artwork is poorly
well-presented and with some issues. presented.
polished.

Scoring Guide:

 Excellent (4): Total score of 16-20 points

 Good (3): Total score of 11-15 points
 Satisfactory (2): Total score of 6-10 points
 Needs Improvement (1): Total score of 5 or fewer points

Instructions for Students:

1. Create Your Artwork:

o Choose whether to illustrate how Jesus reveals God or how He redeems humankind.
o Use any medium you prefer (drawing, painting, collage) to express your chosen theme.
o Focus on creativity, clarity of message, and visual impact.
2. Present Your Work:
o Prepare a brief explanation of your artwork. Be ready to discuss how it represents Jesus’ mission and the
creative choices you made.
3. Submit Your Project:
o Ensure your artwork is properly presented and submitted by the due date.