#13: HE CAME TO HIS OWN,
BUT HIS OWN DID NOT RECEIVE HIM
(Luke 4:16-30, John 1:11)
An early summer morning, A. D. 27, in the town of Nazareth, Galilee
Jesus enters the synagogue service in Nazareth and the Spirit of the Lord is upon him - the Spirit of wisdom and understanding and of counsel and might and of knowledge and the fear of the Lord (Isaiah 11:1-2). Many attending this service recognize Jesus and remembered him as a child growing up. They remember how he looked in his teenage years and in his twenties. They still think of him as only a carpenter and a skillful artisan. But they have heard reports of him healing people and working miracles in other towns; so now they anxiously watch and wait to see what he will do here.
Being 30 years old, Jesus is qualified to stand and read a passage of Scripture and comment on it. The presiding elder invites him to come and read. Jesus walks to the reading table and the attendant hands him a large lambskin scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Jesus chooses a passage and reads:
Messianic Prophecy Fulfilled:
(Given 698 B. C.)
“The Spirit of the Lord Jehovah [is] on Me,
because Jehovah has anointed me
to preach the gospel to the meek.”
“He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty for the captives
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed;
to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord”
(Isaiah 61:1a, LITV, 1b-2a, NKJV).
Jesus desires that people be set free from demonic oppression and false burdens (Isaiah 61:1-2a, 58:6). He wants their eyes to be opened to the goodness and favor of God. So he proclaims the year of the Lord’s deliverance, as written: ". . . proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants" (Leviticus 25:10b, NKJV).
Now Jesus' audience expects him to expound from this Scripture. They wait in suspense to hear his comments. But Jesus simply read this passage to state his purpose and mission. By the anointing of God He wants to destroy yokes of bondage off people (Isaiah 58:6, 10:27). As all eyes are fixed on him, he announces, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled as you hear it" (Luke 4:21b).
One would expect Jesus to receive a polite and perhaps even a favorable reception among these neighbors and family members. But that is not the case this morning.
Comments: In part two of this devotional we will take a close look at the response of Jesus’ neighbors after he announced that he was fulfilling this prophecy. But for now, let’s ask ourselves, “What is my response to Jesus’ announcement?”
By Jesus coming and accomplishing our salvation, He brought in a special time of God’s acceptance and favor. I am thankful for that. He came not just to bring us hope, but to be our Hope. He also brings to us freedom and He came to deliver us from oppression. He came to heal any brokenness in our hearts. He came so that the poor could become rich in faith and have their needs met through Him (James 2:5, Luke 4:18-19, Philippians 4:19). Even though His hometown rejected Him, today we can say, “Jesus, I receive You and Your ministry. I thank You for healing any brokenness in my heart and for setting me free and restoring my vision to see what You want me to see and for bringing to me God’s acceptance and favor. You are my Savior and Lord.”
Note: much of this devotional is from The Life of Jesus Foretold, pages 8-12.
Jesus enters the synagogue service in Nazareth and the Spirit of the Lord is upon him - the Spirit of wisdom and understanding and of counsel and might and of knowledge and the fear of the Lord (Isaiah 11:1-2). Many attending this service recognize Jesus and remembered him as a child growing up. They remember how he looked in his teenage years and in his twenties. They still think of him as only a carpenter and a skillful artisan. But they have heard reports of him healing people and working miracles in other towns; so now they anxiously watch and wait to see what he will do here.
Being 30 years old, Jesus is qualified to stand and read a passage of Scripture and comment on it. The presiding elder invites him to come and read. Jesus walks to the reading table and the attendant hands him a large lambskin scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Jesus chooses a passage and reads:
Messianic Prophecy Fulfilled:
(Given 698 B. C.)
“The Spirit of the Lord Jehovah [is] on Me,
because Jehovah has anointed me
to preach the gospel to the meek.”
“He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty for the captives
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed;
to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord”
(Isaiah 61:1a, LITV, 1b-2a, NKJV).
Jesus desires that people be set free from demonic oppression and false burdens (Isaiah 61:1-2a, 58:6). He wants their eyes to be opened to the goodness and favor of God. So he proclaims the year of the Lord’s deliverance, as written: ". . . proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants" (Leviticus 25:10b, NKJV).
Now Jesus' audience expects him to expound from this Scripture. They wait in suspense to hear his comments. But Jesus simply read this passage to state his purpose and mission. By the anointing of God He wants to destroy yokes of bondage off people (Isaiah 58:6, 10:27). As all eyes are fixed on him, he announces, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled as you hear it" (Luke 4:21b).
One would expect Jesus to receive a polite and perhaps even a favorable reception among these neighbors and family members. But that is not the case this morning.
Comments: In part two of this devotional we will take a close look at the response of Jesus’ neighbors after he announced that he was fulfilling this prophecy. But for now, let’s ask ourselves, “What is my response to Jesus’ announcement?”
By Jesus coming and accomplishing our salvation, He brought in a special time of God’s acceptance and favor. I am thankful for that. He came not just to bring us hope, but to be our Hope. He also brings to us freedom and He came to deliver us from oppression. He came to heal any brokenness in our hearts. He came so that the poor could become rich in faith and have their needs met through Him (James 2:5, Luke 4:18-19, Philippians 4:19). Even though His hometown rejected Him, today we can say, “Jesus, I receive You and Your ministry. I thank You for healing any brokenness in my heart and for setting me free and restoring my vision to see what You want me to see and for bringing to me God’s acceptance and favor. You are my Savior and Lord.”
Note: much of this devotional is from The Life of Jesus Foretold, pages 8-12.