Whole Life, Whole Bible: Journey through ScriptureНамуна

31: He came to his own...

It was an ordinary sabbath, with the people of Nazareth in the synagogue together — except, that day, a young man they knew, the son of a local carpenter, had returned to the town. They had heard widespread praise of his teaching in other parts of Galilee and now he was in their synagogue, reading from Isaiah 61.

In its first setting, the figure of Isaiah 61 comes to the downtrodden people of God in exile. He is commissioned by God, anointed with the Spirit, and comes to announce that comfort and salvation are close at hand.

And then Jesus said, ‘Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing’ (Luke 4:21).

Here at this local event in the local synagogue, Jesus spoke to the people and they responded. At first they spoke well of him, pleased with the success of a local man, looking forward to seeing some miracles, perhaps. But he continued to speak, challenging them to see that just as Israel had rejected the prophets, so the people of his home town would not understand him. As Elijah and Elisha had gone beyond Israel to the Gentiles to perform their miracles, so the Jewish people of Jesus’ day would find that God’s kingdom would extend to bless the poor, the prisoner, the outcast and the Gentile. This was too much for the people of Nazareth, and they became so angry that they tried to kill him (v. 29).

Here and in many more passages, the Gospel writers report Jesus’ challenges to Israel, especially to her leaders. They were waiting for the restoration of the Davidic kingdom, for a proper and complete return from exile, for a Messiah who would throw out the Gentile conquerors, reinstate Israel’s ancient borders, restore her ethnic purity and enforce her laws. Jesus, Israel’s true Messiah, challenged them to a different agenda — to seek the lost sheep, take back the repentant sons, care for the widows and orphans, welcome the alien and stranger, demonstrate to the world the love and mercy of their God, and recognise his Lordship. He challenged them to look at their own history and to open their ears to the prophets of their past, to Isaiah and to Amos, to Jeremiah and to Habakkuk.

Some would indeed respond, but, then as now, many would be blind and deaf to the Saviour of the world.

For further reflection and action

1. Jesus seemed to have a special concern for poor and marginalised people. Who are the poor and marginalised today, and how can we follow Jesus in reaching out to them?
2. In Romans 9-11, Paul deals at length with the status of the Jews who have rejected Christ. These are difficult and much-debated chapters, requiring careful study, but reading 9:1–5, 30–33 and 10:1–4 will give you a flavour of Paul’s argument.
3. Do you have friends and family who are content with their view on life and are indignant at attempts to present the gospel to them? Try to find two or three Christians and pray regularly together for the Holy Spirit’s work in those lives, and for wisdom and discernment in your approach.