Jesus Rejected

Scroll of Isaiah

In the synagogue the people would stand for the reading of the word, then the rabbi would sit down in front and the people would sit “at their feet” to listen to the teaching about the scripture.

Jesus’ teaching may have been longer, but the main point that was recorded was “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

The New Testament continually proclaims what God has promised throughout history. What the Old Testament anticipated God has fulfilled through the life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The Spirit of the Lord is Upon Me

Messach (Messiah) in Hebrew; Christos (Christ) Greek; The anointed one.

Luke 3:22- The Holy Spirit descended like a dove, after which we see Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit in 4:1.

There has been anointed ones in the past.

Men who the Holy Spirit came upon to complete the task that was assigned, priests, kings.

Sometimes even things such as the tabernacle, the alter.

But this is the anointed one. The special one whom God had a specific plan for. Not just to pay for our sin, but to reverse the effects of sin that were on the people.

Proclaim Good News to the Poor

Where sin had made the poor the outcast, Jesus came to bring the gospel to them.

God’s plan wasn’t for the poor to be neglected

Deuteronomy 15:7–8 ESV

“If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be.

Provision was made for the poor, but they were viewed as a burden on society. Not looked after. So Jesus comes and turns it all upside down.

He doesn’t come proclaiming the gospel to the kings or the aristocrats, or religious leaders. But the poor, the hurting.

The one who’s sick needs a physician.

Liberty to captives

Not a physical captive, though God does hate people taking others captive. But liberty to those who are held captive by sin!!

John 8:34 ESV

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.

So many people think that they are living in freedom, but they are slaves to sin, unable to break free of doing the will of the flesh and will never find true joy because of that.

Jesus came to liberate us from the grip of sin in our lives, so we can live free. Freedom where we are no longer enslaved to do the things that we know are wrong, the things that cause grief. Free to live for the glory of God and get to experience real peace, real joy that only comes from a real relationship with God.

Sight to the Blind

He literally opened the eyes of the blind. But He also opened the eyes of those in Spiritual darkness.

2 Corinthians 4:4 ESV

In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Satan has blinded people, so that they cannot see the truth of the gospel.

Jesus is coming, not just to restore physical sight. But the spiritual blindness that people have because of sin. Jesus is coming so that we might receive sight to see the glorious good news!!

Liberty to Those who are Oppressed

The ones who Jesus came to free, were those who were oppressed:

The poor, the captives, the blind

Mark 2:17 ESV

And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Jesus came to save sinners, those who realize, who recognize that they need a savior.

Do you recognize your need? Or do you think that your pretty good on your own?

Proclaim the year of the Lord’s Favor

The year is roughly translated a period of time.

The time had come, where people would now be acceptable in the Lord’s sight. Not by our own righteousness, but by the righteousness of Jesus.

A Prophet is Not Accepted In His Home Town

In v.22 They speak will of His gracious words.

Then Jesus reminds them of Elijah and Elisha, “acceptable” prophets. Quickly their marvel turns to wrath.

This is probably for a few reasons:

1) He was willing to give His gifts to others and not to them

Jesus did works in Capernaum before hand. v.23

They want Him to do them now, to show them that He is worthy.

Instead Jesus points them to Elijah and Elisha.

As Israel wasn’t worthy of the gifts that Elijah and Elisha had so they are not worthy of the gifts that Jesus has.

2) Gentiles were the objects of compassion

This seems pretty obvious in the Old Testament, however they had missed it.

Nothing grates on the nerves of a Jew more than grace being show to Gentiles.

3) These cases applied to them

Just like Israel of old wasn’t worthy, they were not worthy.

The implication might have even been that they were worse than gentiles.

For this they decided Jesus was deserving of death.

How are we like the angry mob?

Do we demand a sign from God to prove to us that He is worthy?

Do we expect God to serve us?

Do we get spiteful and angry when we see others getting special treatment, and it’s not being given to us?

These reactions come from a sinful heart that desires to use God, not worship Him.

Beloved, let us be people that recognize our unworthiness before a holy and righteous God. Let that recognition drive us to worship and adore God for who He is, and not come to the point where we are desiring God to serve us.