What we have before us this morning – is the beginning of Jesus’ ministry.
This is it.
O sure he has done “some stuff” before this. He called twelve disciples. He healed some people here and there.
He was building up his street rep…a little.
He was “hanging out” with some pretty interesting folks. He found out what “life” is like for the maimed and the blind. Why he even saved “a prostitute” from being stoned to death.
He fed “some hungry people” – it was really “no big thing.” They were hungry, so he provided.
John also just told us about that wedding event in Cana and the wine running out. Jesus was “hesitant,” but what the heck…so he took care of that one too!
Jesus was just helping folks out…because he could.
Now he finds himself back in his “old stomping grounds.” He had not been in Nazareth since he left it.
They were close-by……the Sabbath was coming………it was a chance to rekindle some old relationships. What-the-heck!
All four of the gospels report that Jesus was “rejected by his hometown and by his hometown synagogue.
All four gospels also say that “a prophet has no honor” in his own hometown.
He must have known “what” he was getting himself into. He probably walked into it with “eyes wide open.”
Luke’s version of the story is said to be “the most intricate” and “the most interesting account.” Luke after all – was the master-story teller.
Neither Mark nor Matthew mention the hometown of Nazareth, only Luke does that…
Luke also goes out of his way to make sure that we know, that going to the Synagogue, every Sabbath day was Jesus’ custom. He was regular in his attendance, wink, wink…
It is from Luke’s gospel – that we know – that when a teacher sat down, that meant he was ready to teach.
The Jewish Synagogue Sabbath worship consisted of a reading from “the Law” and a reading from “the Prophets.” Of course there were “psalms that were sung.” A guest rabbi – could select any passage from “the Prophets” that he chose to…and then he would expound on it – for as long as he wanted to…
Jesus obviously knew his way around the Scriptures…and in particular…he knew his way around the prophet Isaiah.
When he was done reading, he handed back the scroll carefully to the attendant and then, he sat down to teach.
His sermon or his meditation (if you wanted to call it that) had to be “one of the shortest in all recorded history.”
Maybe that’s why the folks initially liked him so much! He preached the Reader’s Digest Version…it was condensed.
You probably would never catch this- but Jesus quoted from Isaiah 61.2a – and skipped completely over verse 2b indicating – just how well Jesus knew his Hebrew Bible. He obviously did not like what verse 2.b had to say.
There is tension and expectation written all over this text. You can almost feel it build. We can imagine all the eyes just being riveted on him…and waiting…anticipating…his message.
And then, in that shortest sermon ever – Jesus says, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
I think what he was saying was that -these ancient prophesies will be taking place now in “his ministry.” But then, he didn’t quite say all that…
Wait for it!
Watch for it!
Listen for it!
See if it does or does not happen!
This is a new day! A new time! And God himself is going to be doing a “new thing.”
After all, this is “the year of the Lord’s favor.” This is “a Jubilee year.” This is a time of celebration. This is a year of massive forgiveness. Debts will actually be forgiven.
You wait…you watch…good things are about to happen.
And they will happen starting this very day…TODAY!!!!
His words were gracious. People liked his brevity. They approved of what he was saying. It was short and to the point. This was a Jubilee year! A year of freedom for all those who felt oppressed…by anyone or any thing… God was about to act…
This Jesus, this son of Nazareth, was like a prophet, more than “like a prophet.”
And he was encouraging too boot.
So the people decided and gave him, two thumbs up! And an “atta boy” or two!