基督的關懷服侍
路加福音四章14至21節
14耶穌滿有聖靈的能力，回到加利利；他的名聲就傳遍了四方。
15他在各會堂裡教訓人，眾人都稱讚他。
16耶穌來到拿撒勒，就是他長大的地方。在安息日，照他平常的規矩進了會堂，站起來要念聖經。
17有人把先知以賽亞的書交給他，他就打開，找到一處寫著說：
18“主的靈在我身上，因為他用膏膏我，叫我傳福音給貧窮的人；差遣我報告被擄的得釋放，瞎眼的得看見，叫那受壓制的得自由，
19報告神悅納人的禧年。”
20於是把書捲起來，交還執事，就坐下。會堂裡的人都定睛看他。
21耶穌對他們說：“今天這經應驗在你們耳中了。”
信息分享
耶穌基督在世上活出的生命，正是我們每天生活的最佳典範。有些信徒強調基督的言行教訓，甚於祂為我們受死所成就的救贖。另一方面，我們卻往往會忽視基督在以色列全地傳道時所做的傑出工作。
在今天選讀的經文中，我們看見基督在世的使命宣言，當中描述了人類的四種光景和各自最大的需要。基督說，祂來是要服侍那些靈性貧乏、做罪的奴隸、對神的事情瞎眼，並被生活本身壓得透不過氣來的人。祂進而指出，這些人正是祂的服侍對象，祂要傳福音給他們、宣佈為奴的得釋放、使瞎眼的得看見，並幫助需要幫助的人。
我們今天可能自覺力量微小，不可能效法基督。然而，正如祂所做的關懷服侍，即幫助有需要的人，卻是我們能夠做到的；我們有很多機會關心那些陷入困境的人。人人都需要友誼；大多數人都渴望有人聆聽他們，或給予鼓勵。我們要表達這種關心。
英皇欽定本將第18節的「叫那受壓制的得自由」，譯為「醫治那心靈破碎的人」。今天有甚麼事情使人心靈破碎呢？也許，被人羞辱、憂愁、希望幻滅和失望等，都可以令人心碎。我們身邊的人、那些我們每天遇見的人中，有沒有被這些情緒深深傷害的人呢？我們可以把握機會，跟他們做朋友，從細微之處，讓他們知道，因著基督為我們所成就的事，我們願意幫助他們。
誠然，關心他人需要佔用我們的時間；我們也可以格外致電問候，或特別寫信和慰問卡。唯有當我們將來去到天堂，我們才會知道我們此刻的一個行動、一個關心、一個代禱，對別人來說是何等意義重大。我們是否真正關心他人呢？他人能否看見我們，像基督一樣地關心人，今天以至於每一天呢？
CHRIST’S MINISTRY OF CARING
Luke 4:14-21
14 Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region.
15 And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.
16 So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.
17 And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:
18 “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;
19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.”
20 Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him.
21 And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
Message
In our reading today we have His declaration of His mission to the world and also four remarkable pictures of human life and its areas of greatest need. Christ said He came to those who faced spiritual poverty, those who were slaves to sin, those who were blind to the things of God, and those who had been buffeted by life itself. In each case He showed that He was to be an active ministry; to preach, proclaims, open eyes, and to help those who needed help.
We ourselves may feel totally inadequate to do anything like what He did. But just as He was a caring ministry, helping all who were in need, so we have opportunities to help those in somewhat similar circumstances. Men and women still respond to friendship. Many are glad for a listening ear or a word of encouragement. We need to show that we care.
The words in verse 18 “to release the oppressed” are translated in the KJV as “to heal the broken-hearted”. What can break a heart today? Shame can do it. Sorrow can do it. So can disillusionment and disappointment. Are there any people around us, people who we meet from day to day, who have been deeply wounded by these emotions? This could be an opportunity for us to be a friend to them and in some small way let them see that because of what Christ has done for us, we want to help them too.
It might take up our time when our intention is to do something else. It may mean extra phone calls or letters or cards. But we may not know what our actions, our thoughts, our prayers meant to that person at that time till we reach heaven. How much do we really care? Can the caring ministry of Christ be seen in us - today and every day?