Luke 4:14-30 Week 10

What would you do if you won the lottery Tonight?

Today’s Power ball total is 251 million dollars.

Luke 4:14-15

Jesus was changed by the wilderness. The Spirit had come upon him at his baptism and it still was leading him after the wilderness experience. He moves to begin his ministry.

This story is found in three of the Gospels. It is found also in Matthew and Mark. The order though is different. Luke places this story at the beginning of his ministry. Matthew and Mark present it as latter.

This is an example of Luke using his literary approach to present his themes and importance of what Jesus’ ministry was about. He is focused on the relationship it creates between Jesus and the Gentiles.

Have you ever left your home town for an extended period of time? What was it like when you came home?

Luke 4:16-21

Jesus says that he came to proclaim freedom for the prisoners, and recovery of sight for the Blind and to set the oppressed free. To proclaim the year of the Lord’s Favor.

The Year of the Lord’s Favor is a reference to the year of Jubilee. This is the year that debts are to be forgiven and slaves set free and reparations of property given. IT was a year that the down trodden would have longed for.

Why do you think it was surprising for Jesus to Proclaim this about himself?

Luke 4:22-30

Why do you think that “no prophet” is accepted in his hometown?

Jesus makes two big claims in this passage and both reference two of the major prophets of the history of Israel. The first is Elijah and the provision that was provided to him for the Gentile woman (widow in Zarphath). The second is Elisha and the healing of the Syrian Naaman and his cleansing.

Why would the crowd be so offended by these references?

Luke continues to set the stage and the point of view that the chosen people of God are not the only ones who are gaining access to God. Jesus came for the Gentiles. He came to bring them into the fold.

In essence Jesus removed the Birth right to the elect and promised it to all. Jesus set this in his home town and this caused problem.

Why do people Reject Jesus?

This is not a new problem. This is one as old as the very beginning of his ministry. People who knew exactly who he was couldn’t accept him and yet sometimes we are suprised when people don’t accept him today. The challenge comes is that not all will recognize who he is. Not all will come to terms with it. Not all can accept that Jesus came for us all and that he did come and died and rose again.