Christ’s First Sermon

“And 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 for to read,” etc. ().

In a former discourse we noticed the visit of Jesus to Nazareth, His attendance in the synagogue, and the prophecy which He read to the people. We now have to consider,

I. The Account Which Jesus gave of His Own Mission;

and,

II. The Effect It Produced Upon His Audience.

I. The Account Which Jesus Gave of His Mission.

A. He refers to His divine qualification. “The Spirit of the Lord,” etc. “Because He hath anointed,” etc. The history of Christ’s anointing is connected with His baptism. The priests of old were set apart to their offices by being washed in pure water, and anointed with holy oil. So Christ, by being baptized in Jordan, and by the descent of the Holy Spirit (, ). The prophets of old were only enabled to deliver predictions by and of the Holy Spirit, “For they wrote and spake,” etc. Kings also were consecrated with holy oil. Now Jesus came to sustain the threefold offices. He was the Prophet of prophets typified by Moses; He was the King of Zion, the Prince of the kings of the earth. But Jesus refers principally to His ministerial or prophetical office in the text, “Anointed to preach.” Now observe, the Spirit was upon Him,

1. In unlimited plenty. He had the whole of the Spirit of God upon Him, not given by measure unto Him (see ). Others had it in different degrees, etc.

2. He had the Spirit always with Him. Prophets had not; hence we read of the Spirit being upon them to meet this emergency and the other. With Christ the Spirit dwelt and abode; so that all places, times, and circumstances were alike unto Him. He refers,

B. To the fulfillment of a striking prophecy. “This day is the Scripture fulfilled,” etc. Every word of God is pure, true, and unalterable. Prophecy chiefly pointed to Him. “Of Him Moses in the law,” etc. It behooved all things to be accomplished which were written in the law, and prophets, and the Psalms concerning Him. Now was realized the first of those striking predictions which related to His great mission ().

C. He declares the character of His work.

1. To preach the gospel to the poor. Pagan philosophers overlooked the poor. The scribes and rulers treated them with scorn and oppressed them. Proud, arrogant human nature generally neglects and despises them. The arcana of science, the schools of philosophy, the temples of fame, were closed against them. Jesus came to have compassion upon the multitude—the neglected, the despised multitude. He came to visit, and to pity, and to instruct, and to offer the glad tidings of the gospel to the poor. The poor especially need it; it suits their condition; and it is the glory of our Christianity, that “the poor have the gospel preached unto them.”

2. To heal the broken-hearted. Ours is a world of misery, a valley of tears; trouble is the lot of humanity. Well, Christ comes to calm the storms etc.; to bless the sons and daughters of sorrow, but especially those who are distressed on account of sin, and want inward peace. Jesus heals the broken heart. “He gives to those who mourn in Zion,” etc.; He said, “Blessed are they that mourn,” etc.

3. Deliverance to the captives. Men are enslaved; the vassals of Satan; bound in the chains of vice; under the despotical sway of the prince of darkness; led captive by him at his will. Jesus came to free the souls of men from the yoke, and to give them liberty. “If the Son make you free, ye are free indeed,” etc.

4. Recovering of sight to the blind. Now here the figure is carried out. It was customary for the mind to be depressed when in a state of captivity; still more wretched by being bound in fetters; and worst of all when, like Samson or Zedekiah, deprived of sight. Thus Satan’s captives are in blindness; the god of this world has blinded them; they are in darkness and in the shadow of death. Now Jesus does what no earthly power could effect. He restores the sight of the captives of Satan; He anoints them with eye-salve, and they see; He translates them out of darkness, etc.

5. He sets at liberty those who are bruised. Who have been wounded by the adversary; or who, for want of air and freedom, are diseased: He frees their fettered feet, breaks their bands, and fills them with joy.

6. He proclaimed the year of jubilee to the people. The very reverse of their former state; made known the joyful sound of peace and plenty, of rest and festivity. The gospel era is emphatically “the acceptable year of the Lord.”

II. The Effect It Produced upon His Audience.

A. They listened with marked attention (v. ). This was proper, necessary, pleasing. Some have their eyes closed in sleep, some gaze about, some look into their Bibles and hymn-books; but they fixed their eyes upon the speaker.

B. They were filled with astonishment and wonder. No doubt at His wisdom, but equally so at the tenderness, condescension, and love with which He spoke.

C. They were spell-bound, however, by prejudice. They thought upon His parentage and were offended by Him, and said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?” Jesus replies to their private reasonings, and shows how in times past two Gentiles were honored on account of their faith: the widow of Sarepta and Naaman; and so it would be with Himself and His message.

D. They attempted to murder the Son of God. Truth flashed upon their minds, but they hated it; it exasperated them, and they tried to cast the messenger of mercy headlong down the hill. “He came unto His own.…” Jesus passed through the midst; He was silent; He was removed from their sight; He forsook the place.

1. To you Jesus has come with the message of life.

2. You stand in need of the blessings He bestows.

3. Do not allow prejudice to make Christ a stone of stumbling and rock of offense.

4. Embrace the message and live.

5. Put on Christ and profess Him to the world.

Jabez Burns