THE CALLING AND THE CALLING CARD

True Believers in Christ know that The Calling of Christ from birth was The Cross. The Cross, His Cross was the Salvation of the world. However, all that Jesus did from day one to the point of enduring The Cross or fulfilling His Calling was Christ's Calling Card. 

To begin His earthly Ministry, Jesus, after been given the seal of approval from Father God and the Holy Spirit in His Baptism, plus after His Temptation in the wilderness - travels home to Nazareth. Here, Jesus purposely goes to a particular passage in Isaiah and declares it fulfilled then and there.

"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, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

‘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, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’ " (Luke 4:16-19)

Here we see The Announcement of Christ's Calling Card. This will be what draws men, women and children to Him. 

1. He is Anointed
2. He will be proclaiming Good News to the poor
3. He will be proclaiming freedom for the prisoners
4. He will be recovering the sight of the blind
5. He will set the oppressed free
6. He will proclaim the year of the Lord's favor

Jesus told His Disciples and listeners several times throughout His Calling Card Ministry that His Calling would be Finalized through His death and resurrection (Mk 8:31; 9:12; Lk. 9:22; 24:7; Jn. 3:14; 12:34). But their eyes, ears and understanding were kept clouded till after Christ's words were fulfilled.

With all kinds of ailments, the young, middle-aged and old sought Jesus for relief. He Healed our minds with His teachings. He Healed our body with His Word and Touch. He Healed our Spirit with Encouragement that He is The One we are looking for - period. Scripture says that Christ did so much more that books could not contain it. "Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written." (John 21:25)

Similarly, I encourage my brothers and sisters in Christ and myself to know your Calling and your Calling Card. Know what God has Called you to do for His Kingdom - "Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. ' " (Matthew 16:24) In addition, know and utilize what draws people to you. Things like love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control are a wonderful start. They are traits that God said through Paul to the church in Galatia - "Against such things there is no law." (Galatians 5:22-23) 

Jesus knew His Calling and worked on it and toward it with His Calling Card. I believe we should do the same.