Jesus’ mission statement is as important for the church today as it ever was because it tells us that Jesus is for all of us. Let’s take a look at it line by line: 

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me”- Jesus didn’t come just to say some pretty words, or to do some flashy signs. He came in the full power of the Holy Spirit, to accomplish the will of the Father God. He was never separated from either. Everything He did and continues to do holds the mark of the divine. 

“Because He anointed Me to bring good news to the poor”- Each and every one of us needs the good news that Jesus came to bring. Each and every one of us, apart from Jesus, are poor- if not in possessions, certainly in spirit. We are destitute. We are in desperate need. Where have you felt poor in your life? Jesus is here to meet that need.  

“He has sent Me to proclaim release to captives”- Apart from Christ, we are all captives to sin. We have no hope of freedom without the redeeming work of the cross. The good news of the gospel is that Jesus came to break the chains that would otherwise drag us down to hell. He came to set us free to live eternally with Him. Where have you felt like a captive to your sin or shame? Jesus came to set you free! 

“And recovery of sight to the blind”- Without Jesus, we are all blind. We walk through life with blinders on, bumping into everything and wondering what in the world is going on. Without Jesus, we are lost and susceptible to all kinds of deception and calamity. Where have you felt blind, groping around in the dark for some sort of handhold? Jesus came to light your path.  

“To set free those who are oppressed”- Many of us have felt the heavy hold of oppression in one way or another. Sin oppresses us, our shame oppresses us, our weaknesses oppress us, the world around us oppresses us. But Jesus came to take your burden on His shoulders and lift the weight of oppression from your back. Where have you felt the heaviness of oppression in your life? Jesus came to give you reprieve and rest.  

“To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.”- See, here is the amazing thing. Under the blood of Christ, we have the favor of God. This statement speaks to the amazing truth that when the Father God looks down on us, He now sees the righteousness of Jesus and that brings us favor with Him. His blood covers our sin… now and forever!  

See, this mission statement of Jesus is really good news to you and me! Jesus came with you and me in mind. He came to set right all that was wrong with the world. Some day He will return to finish the work He began, to wipe away every tear and do away with pain and sadness forever. Until that day, we get to experience the amazing freedom that comes from the work Jesus did on the cross. We get to have His salvation today and with it, the freedom He brings! And we get to live in the shadow of His victory over sin and death!