The Spirit of the Lord Is on Me

Luke 4 begins with a test. Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, spent forty days in the wilderness. The devil tempted Him three times. He used hunger, power and even Bible verses twisted out of place. Jesus answered each one with Scripture from Deuteronomy. Where Israel failed in the wilderness long ago, Jesus stayed faithful. He is the obedient Son.

In the synagogue at Nazareth, Jesus read from Isaiah. The passage spoke of good news for the poor, release for captives, sight for the blind and freedom for the oppressed. Then He said, Today, this Scripture has been fulfilled. He was claiming to be the promised One. He reminded them that God once helped a widow in Sidon and a man from Syria. The crowd was furious. They drove Him to the edge of a cliff, but He passed through them, because His time had not yet come.

In Capernaum, people were astonished, for His word had authority. Even evil spirits obeyed Him and knew He was the Holy One of God. He healed Simon's mother-in-law, and she got up and served them. At sunset He healed many. The next day the crowds wanted Him to stay. But He said He must preach the good news of God's Kingdom to other cities too, because that is why He was sent.