Re: Constituting

Ian El-Paget January 29, 2025 4 1

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Luke 4: 14-21 (NIV)

14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. 15 He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.

16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

18 “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,
19     to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down.The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Thinking about Jesus’ powerful manifesto you would be forgiven for not picking up on the wider context and the role of the Holy Spirit. This is, after all, Jesus — Anointed Son of God — who came to die and rise again redeeming all of mankind for all of time from the bondage of sin, restoring us as sons and daughters of God. Of course that was his manifesto! We expect nothing less from the Son of God. But that same Jesus is the son of man, is not just a supreme example to us, but an example of us. Jesus is an example of humanity, of a human walking in the fullness of potential, in the fullness of connection with the Divinity. As such, his manifesto is also the church’s, and it is ours. 

So what do we see in the wider context? We see Jesus connected and constrained by the Holy Spirit. 

• We see Jesus, led by the Spirit into the wilderness
• We see Jesus, led by the Spirit for 40 days and nights of fasting 
• We see Jesus, led by the Spirit to a vulnerable place where Satan tempted and tested him
• We see Jesus, full of the Spirit returning to people and society
• We see Jesus, full of the Spirit ministering and prophesying the fulfilment of the esteemed prophet Isaiah

Before we get to your manifesto, your life mission, your life values, your personal constitution, examine your wider context. 

Where is the Holy Spirit in your narrative?
Is Jesus an example of you?
This thought daily drives me 
Mostly to my knees.

Prayer:

Come Holy Spirit 

Come and do what you do

Come and lead me where you will

Come and fill me 

Come and work through me

Come Holy Spirit 

Come, you are most welcome here