Jesus teaches in the synagogue at Nazareth

"[Jesus] came to Nazareth where he had been brought up. He entered, as was his custom, on the Sabbath day, in the synagogue, and stood up to read. He was given the book of the prophet Isaiah ; He unfolded the book and found the passage where it was written : "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach good news to the poor ... to set at liberty those who are oppressed, An agreeable year of the Lord ..." Luke 4: 16-19

At the beginning of his ministry, Jesus returns to his childhood city. At the synagogue, he rises to read the passage of the day : a prophecy of Isaiah concerning the two coming of the Messiah, one bringing grace, the other the judgment (Isaiah 61). But Jesus interrupts his reading after the words : "... to proclaim the pleasant year of the Lord." He does not read the sequel : "and the day of vengeance of our God", but he adds what had never been said before : "Today, this Scripture, as you understand it, is fulfilled" (Luke 4:21). It was in fact the inner deliverance of their sins, sometimes their infirmities, not that of the much-desired Roman yoke.

The reactions of his listeners are interesting to observe. After being temporarily touched, they recovered and recognized in Jesus only the "son of Joseph" (v.22). That changes their gaze on him. By what authority can he who has grown among them present himself as the long-awaited Messiah ? Does he make striking miracles ? Hence they remain an ordinary man. As soon as Jesus evokes those made in favor of former pagans (verses 25-27), the crowd becomes hostile.

The situations we live in are very different, but Jesus is still unrecognized today as in his day. Some recognize him as qualities of great humanity, but few accept his message of grace, deliverance, salvation. This world indeed would like to see significant divine interventions to believe.

As for us Christians, in our trials, we aspire to be delivered quickly when we often have to live with them ; Doubt can invade us. However, in the absence of highlights, Jesus wants us to enjoy in this world the peace of his presence with the happy hope and freedom of the gospel of the grace of the Lord. What encouragement !

Source (Please the Lord)