The purpose

 Luke 4   Jesus was "led about by the Spirit in the wilderness".  Full of the Holy Spirit, He spent 40 days fasting "and being tempted by the devil".   We are told of three specific tests:

First, the devil wanted Him to prove that He was the Son of God by changing rocks into bread.  Jesus answered with the Word, "Man shall not live on bread alone." 

Second, the devil want Jesus to worship him in exchange for dominion over all the earth.  Jesus refused, answering, "You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only." 

Thirdly, the devil wanted Jesus to prove the promise of God to not allow Him to be hurt when He threw Himself off the pinnacle of the temple.  Jesus refused, "You shall not put the Lord Your God to the test." 

Jesus did not have to prove anything to the devil. The devil and the demons, as we see shortly, knew exactly Who He was!   May we not lose focus on the truth of God's Word.. We don't live by bread.. but by the Word of God.  We worship and serve Him only. We do not test His promises but simply trust in Him alone. 

After this, Jesus begins to go through Galilee preaching the Good News. Verses 18-19 tells us the essence of Jesus' purpose on earth:

He came in the power of the Spirit of the Lord.. anointed to "preach the gospel to the poor". 

He was "sent to proclaim release to the captives." 

He would give sight to the blind.

He would "set free the downtrodden".

He would "proclaim the favorable year of the Lord."

This is the Word, the purpose that Jesus would fulfill in His time of ministry on the earth.  His message would be received by some and rejected by many.  His own hometown became angry because He would not do their will.. But, in Capernaum, many heard the authority of His Words and were amazed.  Jesus cast out demons.. again, as we read in Matthew, proving that the Kingdom had come.. and He healed the sick.  Release to captives.. sight to the blind.. freedom to the crushed and bruised....

The Babe in the manger.. is the Christ Who came to free us from sin and death, open our eyes to see the Truth, heal us from the crushing and bruising that this world sometimes delivers to us.  Jesus came in grace and truth.. "He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power." Hebrews 1:3.  He was "made.. for a little while lower than the angels;" so that He would later be "crowned.. with glory and honor" and all things "put.. in subjection under His feet." 

Father in heaven, hallowed be Your Name.  Your Kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.. the bread of Life.  Forgive us every trespass as we forgive others. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from all evil. Come Jesus!  Let us live" by faith in the Son of God, who loves us and delivered Himself up for us."  Father bring to mind these truths often.. through this season especially.  Jesus Christ came for us. What wonderful, good, good news! Amen.