Jesus Preaches At Nazareth

Luke 4:14-33

“And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all. ” (Luke 4:14-15)

We are unsure of the exact sequence of events during this period, but Luke tells us that Jesus taught in various synagogues. As a result people began to recognize him as a man of God. The message he gave in Nazareth was not the first time he’d preached. He made Capernaum a base, Fulfilling the prophecy in Isaiah that Matthew 4:14-16. The exact sequence of events during this period is unclear, although it appears that Jesus went to Cana of Galilee, where he turned the water into wine, as described in John 2:1-11, before the message recorded here, as he refers to other miracles in his message. It appears that John was already one of his disciples and he was acquiring others.

The entire group was fascinated as he talked of the mission God had given him, explaining that it was the fulfilment of the scripture. They were amazed, because they had known him as a child and were impressed by his understanding. Perhaps there was even a little pride in a local boy making good, but it was tempered by familiarity.

“And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son? (Luke 4:14-22)

Next Jesus explained that the very familiarity would hinder their hearing the message he preached. The ones most likely heed the message were outsiders such as the Sidonian widow Elijah stayed with or Naaman the Syrian, that Elisha healed.

"And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country. And he said, Verily, I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country. But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow. And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.” (Luke 4:23-27)

The people apparently viewed him as a traitor because he didn’t make Nazareth his base, and took offense that he thought they would fail to obey God. Their reaction shows that he was entirely correct, going so far as to try to push him off a nearby cliff.

“And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong.” (Luke 4:28-30)

I have always wondered if he did like he did at Jerusalem when he escaped the mob who tried to stone him. John 8:59 states, “Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.” Apparently he made himself invisible and walked right through the middle of them.

"But he passing through the midst of them went his way, And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days. And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.” (Luke 4:30-32)

Jesus had the power of the Holy Spirit and it affected everything he did. It was not the powerful delivery, but as a person who really knew what they were talking about, as Matthew 7:28-29 describes. “And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” John 7:15 reemphasizes his knowledge. “And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?” Jesus was the authority on the subject. He wasn’t just pretending to be an authority, He knew as a result of the Spirit's teaching and power.