The Power of Purpose

Want to know what matters to Jesus?

Check out his very first sermon.

You can learn a lot about Jesus’ priorities from Luke 4, when he sets his agenda for the rest of his ministry. You can’t read the Gospels without realizing that Jesus had a unique interest in the marginalized of society. The marginalized weren’t on the edge of Jesus’ ministry. They were at the heart of it.

Jesus said, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (Luke 4:18-19 NIV).

Who was at the forefront of Jesus’ mind as he started his ministry? The poor, the prisoners, the blind, and the oppressed. In fact, how we care for the marginalized demonstrates our love for Jesus.

Jesus told us this in Matthew 25:35-36: “I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me” (NLT).

Jesus loved. Jesus cared. I believe it’s what Jesus would have us to do.