Luke 4

The middle section of Luke 4 deals with Jesus returning to Nazareth – the town “where he had been reared”.  He went to the “meeting place” as he always did on the Sabbath, and participated in the worship there.  As “he was handed the scroll of the prophet Isaiah” he read the verses about His own prophecy that were written on the pages.  I love how Luke 4:19 is captured in the Message version: “This is God’s year to act!”  That was the message Isaiah had delivered thousands of years ago.  It was the message Jesus delivered in the synagogue at Nazareth.  And guys – it is true for you and me today.  This is the year that God will act.  He is in full action every year and we need to pay attention and watch what He is up to and join Him in it.  The people from Jesus’ hometown were not all that enamored with Him.  They had heard of his miracles in Capernaum.  They wanted to see some of that same stuff in their little town.  But it wasn’t the right time or place so Jesus explained that with examples from Elijah and Elisha.  Pay attention to the reaction here: “That set everyone in the meeting place seething with anger. They threw him out, banishing him from the village, then took him to a mountain cliff at the edge of the village to throw him to his doom, but he gave them the slip and was on his way”.   How is that for a homecoming reception?  He reads a little scripture, shares a little truth and next thing you know they are trying to kill Him.  Why?  Because they didn’t like the message.  They wanted to experience the power He had shown in other places for themselves.  The bottom line is they were focused on self and what they could get from Jesus.  They missed the reality of the Messiah because they were looking at it from their own selfish perspective and when they didn’t get what they wanted – they were willing to get rid of Jesus for good.  Sound amazing to you?  Before you condemn the people of Nazareth it is time for a gut check guys.  I for one sometimes miss the Savior because things don’t happen the way I expect or want them too.  Sometimes I too get focused on God’s hands when I should be looking into His face.  It is not about what we get that matters, it is about the relationship we can have with Him and who He is.  We have to be careful we don’t miss the relationship because we are focused on the activity.  Life matters – live it focused on the face of God!