Jesus knew His why: Preach the kingdom of God, set the captives free.

Early in Jesus’ ministry, He made His “why” unmistakably clear. In His hometown of Nazareth, He read from Isaiah and applied it to Himself:  

“The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.” (Lk 4:18-19)

This set the tone for everything He would do. Knowing what His audience needed and the spiritual healing He would bring them, this clarity shaped every choice He made.

Whether He was calling a greedy outcast back to God (Lk 19:10), teaching His disciples not to seek their own glory (Mk 10:45), or choosing His next steps in serving God (Lk 4:42-45), Jesus was driven by His unwavering purpose. 

Even as He stood before Pilate, rejected and alone, He remained anchored: “For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth.” (Jn 18:37 ESV)

There was always an easier way out. But His purpose protected Him, keeping Him untouched by sin or human pressure. From Jesus’ example, we see this: a God-centred purpose doesn’t spare us from challenges. It strengthens us to walk through them and emerge faithful and victorious.

Hardships aside, in church and in life, we often juggle many good things we could do. It’s easy to be pulled in every direction. Knowing our “why” helps us stay focused on what matters—and who matters. Does our purpose centre on the spiritual needs of God’s people? Does our purpose focus on bringing people closer to God, rather than to ourselves?

When we strip away our service to God to its essence, the heart of our calling ought to still be simple:

Am I preaching the gospel to the poor?

Am I healing the brokenhearted?
Am I setting the captives free?

An effective mission comes from doing the right things for the right purpose. 

If you’re unsure of your “why,” start by looking at Jesus’. Let His purpose shape yours.

Reflection Questions

• Today, how can I bring Jesus to someone in need? Is there someone in crisis whom I can pray with, or a hurting heart who needs a listening ear or a gentle word from God? 

• Which part of Jesus’ purpose from Luke 4:18-19 resonate with me most, and why? 

• Living out our God-centred purpose isn’t only in the ‘big things’. What are small ways in which you can live out your faith today, so that others see Jesus in you?