What happened to Jesus after he triumphed over the temptations? Let’s find out! If we continue to read Luke chapter 4 we find out that after dealing with the Devil Jesus returned to Nazareth and went to synagogue:

“When he stood up to read, he was handed the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Unrolling the scroll, he found the place where it was written,

God’s Spirit is on me;
he’s chosen me to preach the Message of good news to the poor,
Sent me to announce pardon to prisoners and
recovery of sight to the blind,
To set the burdened and battered free,
to announce, “This is God’s year to act!”

He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the assistant, and sat down. Every eye in the place was on him, intent. Then he started in, “You’ve just heard Scripture make history. It came true just now in this place.” (Luke 4: 16-21, MSG)

What intrigues me here is that once Jesus had been tested by the Devil he was given his mission statement! Doesn’t that humble you when you think what is at stake when you are tempted? I am not just talking about if you are faithful in your fasting from candy or fast food here. I am talking about life in general.

Are we faithful when we are not feeling God’s presence in our lives? Are we faithful when we can’t see yet the divine outcome in our lives? Are we faithful when we are tempted to quit? Yet, there is a lot at stake in every decision we make. Every little decision changes us into more Christ-like or less Christ-like. Are we missing our calling/mission because we give in too easily? Lord, have mercy on us!!

Jesus has come so that we may live. Jesus has come to bring pardon to us. Jesus has come to show us the way to God, to be the way to God. There is no way for us to be able to move against the grain on our own. There is no way for us to fight the evil on our own. There is no way for us to resist temptations on our own. But the Holy Spirit fills us with the power of God that enables us to serve the Lord our God faithfully. And when we faithfully choose Jesus time after time we are slowly -by the grace of God- being changed into more Christ-like beings.

“Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let’s not let it slip through our fingers. We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.”
(Hebrews 4:14-16, MSG)

Gracious God,
Have mercy on us!
Be our strength,
fill us with your power!
Enable us to serve you.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: What do you think about Jesus’ mission statement?

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you choose Jesus time after time!