You probably do not know this…but what we do here, this morning, mirrors what was actually done in the Synagogue of Jesus’ day.
In the first century, the synagogue service began with prayer.
The law would be read, that meant a reading from the Torah or the Pentateuch. It was to be a reading coming from the first five books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers or Deuteronomy…
That would be followed by readings from the prophets. We know that there were 5 Major Prophets and 12 Minor Prophets, so you had your pick from 17 different books from the Hebrew Bible. All of these writings, would have been carefully and meticulously hand written on a scroll format.
Scrolls at that time were a roll of papyrus…parchment…or paper containing writing. The history of scrolls dates back to ancient Egypt. In most “ancient literate cultures” scrolls were the earliest format for longer documents written in ink or paint on a flexible background, all of which, preceded bound books…rigid media such as clay tablets were also used but had many disadvantages by comparison.
The meticulous process of hand-copying a scroll takes about 2,000 person-hours (about one year at 40 hours per week).
The Torah scroll contains 304,805 letters (or approximately 79,000 words).

Any “man” (but of course, never “a woman”) could volunteer to read…simply “by standing up,” although usually the readers or lectors were assigned – well in advance.
The reader would typically “sit down” to offer his interpretation. It also appears that sometimes “vigorous discussions” would ensue.
Later, more prayers would be said and shared.
We also know that psalms were actually sung…not recited.
At the conclusion of the synagogue service there would be a blessing or proper dismissal…a sending out…
You can sense “the general format” of our liturgy…in its earliest stages.
It is “neat” because the “action of the text” slows “way-down-considerably” as recorded by Luke.
“Every single body movement” is noted.
For example, Jesus “went in.” He “arose to read.” The scroll of the Major Prophet Isaiah was “given to him.” He “opened up the scroll.” He “found the place.” “He read.” All the eyes in Synagogue were “upon him.” He “rolled up the scroll” again and “handed it back” to the attendant. He “sat down.” “That’s when he said.”
The effect of this “masterful technique” puts emphasis both on “his words” and on “his actions.” Everything happens in “slow-motion-time” and we are drawn into the moment, as if, we were physically there…present!
It is an “awesome technique.” So, along with the crowd in the synagogue, we along with them are drawn to his every word, to his every action.
But for us, and for the people in Nazareth, “the most important thing” was his words. This was his “inaugural address.” For all intents and purposes, this was the beginning of his public ministry…
His first words say a lot…
In his first sermon, Jesus did not imply that he was going to be a king like King David of old, with lots and lots of power…
He didn’t imply that he was going to be a king like King Solomon, one with lots of wisdom and wealth…
Nor did he imply that he was going to be a military leader like Joshua Ben Nun, who took over from Moses and led the people Israel into the Promised Land…
Rather, for his first sermon, Jesus chose Isaiah 61 as his text and said, “I am going to be a servant. I am going to take care of and heal the poor, the blind, the lame and the maimed…
In his first sermon, Jesus was totally consistent with the other stories in the gospel of Luke.
Every single person so far in Jesus’ life was poor. Remember old Zechariah and Elizabeth, he was a mere priest, priests were considered to be the “poorest of the poor” in Jesus’ day.
Old Simeon and Anna in the Temple, they had nothing…
Mary and Joseph were “dirt poor.” She was a servant girl and Joseph was a part of the working poor. The wise men are in Matthew’s gospel, not in Luke’s.
And now, in Luke chapter 4 – Jesus is bringing good news “to the poor.” This is why the church has always been concerned about the poor and the downtrodden.
We need to be concerned about our brothers and sisters who struggle…because, Jesus definitely did!
Blessed are the poor he would later say…
So, where is our concern today? And when was the “last time” you helped or aided “the poor?”
Amen!