September 13 THE ANOINTED PREACHER "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor" (Luke 4:18, NKJV). Appearing in His hometown synagogue in Nazareth, Jesus was invited to address the congregation. Opening the Isaiah scroll, He selected the messianic prophecy of Isaiah 61 as the basis for His discourse. In His explanation of the passage, Jesus startled His audience by applying the prophecy to Himself. He asserted His own anointing by the words, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me" (Luke 4:18, NKJV). Having affirmed His messiahship, Jesus proceeded to describe His earthly job description. Preaching the good news heads the list. "He has anointed Me to preach," Jesus declared. Ever since this announcement, preaching has been the most powerful means of proclaiming the good news of salvation. Our Saviour came to preach the good news of salvation to all mankind--rich and poor, male and female. Jesus had a special focus in His preaching. He was anointed to preach the good news to the poor. The good news Jesus came to preach brought relief for the poor, light for the ignorant, and emancipation from sin's slavery. The gospel not only brings redemption and assures people of a poverty-free hereafter, it also appeals to the social consciousness of Christians to improve the lot of their fellowmen. Christ's preaching also met the needs of the "poor in spirit" (Matthew 5:3, NKJV). Those of every class of society who sense their need of salvation more than their need of material things, are the true "poor in spirit" who will inherit the kingdom. Christians have a sacred duty to perform in carrying forward the work that Christ came to accomplish. "He [Christ] longs to have men and women cooperate with Him. They may be ignorant, but if they are meek and lowly, He will make them vessels fit for the Master's use."--Signs of the Times, January 2, 1899. My Prayer Today: Lord, the good news of the anointed preacher has brought me hope and salvation. Help me to share this good news. Amen.