Jesus Reveals His Mission

Where we’re at

John the baptist birth was foretold

Jesus birth was foretold

Mary and Elizabeth meet

John the baptist is born

Zachariah prophesies about a John preparing a way for God to provide the forgiveness of sins

Jesus is born, dedicated

John preaches repentance for the Kingdom of God is at hand

Jesus get baptized

Jesus is tempted in the wilderness by Satan

What is the word prophecy mean?

Communication of a divine message through a human for a specific purpose

Point 1 - Jesus declared He is the Messiah of Isaiah’s prophecy

Luke 4:16–22 ESV

And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?”

What do you see?

Notice that Jesus intentionally read this particular verse

The verse that Jesus references “The year of the Lord’s Favor”

Isaiah 61:1–2 ESV

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn;

Remember that Jesus was just baptised and the Holy Spirit was there represented as a Dove, providing this anointing.

This passage refers to the year of Jubilee - Lev 25:10 During this year, economic debts were to be forgiven, land restored to families who sold in order to repay debt, and slaves sold to repay debt were to be liberated.

Their lands are being occupied by the Romans

They dont want to be enslaved by the Romans either

They felt like this is an introductory speech to a possible political campaign, gracious and full of hope. I'm sure they all wanted to see this happen as they understood it.

Maybe hey were thinking about printing their “Vote for Jesus 30 AD” banners

At the end they are questioning Jesus identify.

Point 2 - Jesus predicted He would be rejected like the prophets

Luke 4:23–27 ESV

And he said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘ “Physician, heal yourself.” What we have heard you did at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.’ ” And he said, “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land, and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”

What do you see?

At this point people has heard of some of the miracles that Jesus has performed. It wasnt recorded here in Luke but Mark and John have a miracle recorded.

Imagine this

Anyone traveling soon?, imagine that X person and we hear that he healed someone who couldnt walk. We see him next Sunday…you wouldn't know what to believe, if its true or what.

But then he says “Im going to heal your land and make things great” Whats the first thing you want to see? The thing that X supposedly did,

24 And he said, “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown

When God sent messengers to his people in the OT did they accept them?

Prophets were generally not accepted as messengers of God until long after they died and especially by the people who knew them best.

Jesus already knew this and was ready. He quotes a story from Elijah Chapter 17

1 Kings 17:1 ESV

Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.”

Elijah predicts a drought in Israel and God sends Elijah not to a fellow Hebrew but to a Widowed Gentile woman who God ultimately blessed. This was because the people rejected the Prophet.

2 Kings 5:1 ESV

Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the Lord had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper.

Likewise in the times of Elisha, God had favor on a Syrian Army Commander called Naaman. Also a gentile who God healed instead of the Jews because of their unbelief.

In their hearts they are echoing the temptation of Satan “If you are from God, do this”

The people in his town wanted to see a miracle because the doubted.

There are things that Christ promised for believers. What doubts might arise in our own hearts as we consider the claims of Christ?

That He really could overcome all the evil in the world

That He can help people through their trauma and addictions

That He really is coming again to set all things right

I think its important that we think about these things and wrestle with if we actually believe Jesus’ promises.

Point 3 - Jesus continued His ministry despite the people’s rejection

Luke 4:28–31 ESV

When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. And they rose up and drove him out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff. But passing through their midst, he went away. And he went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And he was teaching them on the Sabbath,

What do you see?

They just came from church service and the people that he grew up with were ready to throw him off a cliff .

What would your reaction be? I would probably go home and take a nap. Maybe make sure I have a gun on me next time.

What should we take from the fact that Jesus passed through the crowd unharmed?

Even in the midst of rejection and conflict, God remains sovereign;

God’s plan for our lives cannot be thwarted by the rejection of people;

We can be bold to speak the truth in love because human beings cannot take us out of God’s hand;

Our days are in the Lord’s hand and we can trust Him to take us to our appointed end

How do you suppose that Jesus was able to take so much rejection and still keep going?

Are we able to do the same?

Before he got here remember where he came from.

Luke 4:14–15 ESV

And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.

Take away

A person that you like and they don’t like you back

Maybe by your own parents. They don't support you or have missed part of your life.

Maybe the church has rejected you and the people who call themselves believers.

Jesus knows what its like to be rejected by the people who he grew up with.

He know what its like to have the followers of God shun him and even try to kill him.

Near the beginning of His earthly ministry, Jesus experienced what could be described as a spectacular failure.

Rejected by the people of hi hometown, possibly friends and family.

He continued regardless.

Faced the world in opposition

Jesus was willingly rejected by man so the we may not have to face rejection by God.

We do not know what tomorrow holds, if we will have a job, if country is going to be OK, if our family will still be there. Our plans for this life will ultimately fail

You can be guaranteed that God will fulfill His purposes and the gates of hell will not prevail.

Take heart and don't be discourage in rejection because your savior knows what its like and he calls you an conquerors