Today’s Reading is Luke 4:16 - 21
16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”[a]
20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
This is the first preaching of Christ after his baptism and being tempted by Satan in the wilderness. So it was fitting that He chose the text that speaks of His coming. As He read I’m sure people that had no hope were thinking “when that day comes I will be free from all my pain”. Blind people were probably thinking what they would do on that day when they could see. I could see them wondering what He would look like. Would the Chosen One be large, strong, good looking all things that humans would be thinking as their minds were running wild with anticipation of what this king would look like.
Did the Pharisees just scoff under their breath thinking this would never happen? They probably thought that they were God’s chosen ones since they cared spiritually for the flock, but they didn’t realize that the years of corruption and control that had now become the “normal” was wrong in God’s eyes. I would imagine that they had no fear, but that would soon change as Christ begins to set things straight in His house.
A gasp could probably be heard as Christ stated the prophesy he’d just read would be fulfilled through Him. How could this simple looking person be a king that would save them and give them everlasting life? Shouldn't a king be someone with a confidence, strength and a lineage that would make them proud for him to be their Savior? How could a carpenter’s son be the person that would save them? Sure he could save a broken chair or table. How could he heal their blindness or heal the sick? I could see in the beginning how it was difficult for the Jews to believe this person to be the Savior, but how could they not believe when they saw all the miracles that He would work? Even today, as we see the Lord do amazing works in our lives it’s difficult for us to believe. Do we truly have faith that He exists? Is it hard to believe that our lives are worth His time? If we truly have faith and feel we are worthy, then why do we continue to seek other gods to replace Him?
Dave P