As Jesus was sent, so are we – Reflections on the word “because”

I love it when the Lord gives me some clarity, even for a moment. This morning it was with the word “BECAUSE”.

I’ve was reading through Luke 4:18-19 again this morning…Jesus is in the synagogue reading out of the book of Isaiah (Isaiah 61:1):

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me BECAUSE:
He annointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor,
He has sent Me to proclaim release of the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind,
To set free those who are oppressed,
To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.”

I am of the opinion that In Christ, this verse applies to those of us who follow Jesus as well. However, I have been focused more on the “mission” part (after the “because”), instead on the key word that makes the mission POSSIBLE in the first place. The word “because” points us back to what is before the word…”The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me…”. Jesus was given a supernatural mission – but He was not sent empty handed/empty hearted…He would need superior firepower. He was sent with the Spirit of the Lord on Him. That is the only way He could successfully complete the mission set before Him.

What is a more powerful weapon than the Lord Himself? David knew it – “Then David said to the Philistine, ‘You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted.'” (1 Samuel 17:45).

Now, check this out…

John 17:18 – Jesus is praying for us and says, “As You have sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.”

Then upon Jesus’ resurrection, He tells the disciples (shedding light on what was to come – the indwelling Holy Spirit for those who believe) in John 20:21-22, “So Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.’ And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’.”

As a free and freed people, we are on the same mission that Jesus is on as told in Luke 4:18-19. As such, we need superior firepower too, and in Christ POSSESS it – the indwelling Holy Spirit. This is not a “suicide mission” where we aren’t really expected to succeed and have to fend for ourselves and achieve by our own wits. Quite the contrary. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me BECAUSE…”. We are armed with the Spirit of the Lord – it is only then that we are sent to do His work (Ephesians 2:10).

Therefore we should GO and DO, as CHRIST IS IN YOU. We’ve been sent in His authority (as ambassadors for the Kingdom of Heaven), armed with Himself.

All of that from one word. Just like the Lord to do that.

(Re-posted from May 2009 Facebook note)