THE MISSION

Most organisations have a mission statement: the formal summary of the aims and values of an organisation in one sentence or a few bullet points. 

Jesus is in the synagogue and He is asked to read from Isaiah (61:1–2). His message is straight to the point. His mission is clear: preaching and healing to meet human needs. Salvation is to be proclaimed. Everyone is watching Him. He says, this is what I am doing.

Through His ministry and leading up to His death on the cross, Jesus didn’t deviate from this mission; and that annoyed the Jewish leaders so much, they had Him killed on a cross. 

Isaiah (1:17) also wrote that we are to learn to do right: ‘Seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow’ (NIV). 

This is what it means to love and follow Jesus. Proclaim that Jesus brings salvation – this is what we celebrate at Easter. There is the Gospel in action, helping others in need. They go hand-in-hand and are incomplete without each other.

This is our mission, too.

written by DAVID BARKER