Old Hat

Luke 4:14–30 (NLT) — 14 Then Jesus returned to Galilee, filled with the Holy Spirit’s power. Reports about him spread quickly through the whole region. 15 He taught regularly in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. 16 When he came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the Scriptures. 17 The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, 19 and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.” 20 He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at him intently. 21 Then he began to speak to them. “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!” 22 Everyone spoke well of him and was amazed by the gracious words that came from his lips. “How can this be?” they asked. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” 23 Then he said, “You will undoubtedly quote me this proverb: ‘Physician, heal yourself’—meaning, ‘Do miracles here in your hometown like those you did in Capernaum.’ 24 But I tell you the truth, no prophet is accepted in his own hometown. 25 “Certainly there were many needy widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the heavens were closed for three and a half years, and a severe famine devastated the land. 26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them. He was sent instead to a foreigner—a widow of Zarephath in the land of Sidon. 27 And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, but the only one healed was Naaman, a Syrian.” 28 When they heard this, the people in the synagogue were furious. 29 Jumping up, they mobbed him and forced him to the edge of the hill on which the town was built. They intended to push him over the cliff, 30 but he passed right through the crowd and went on his way.

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Sea of Galilee

"I heard that Jesus stuff before, doesn't do anything for me."

Wanna know why it doesn't do anything for you? Let me tell you...

This text above is near the beginning of Jesus ministry. To put it in context he has been baptized, gone through the trails in the dessert, turned water into wine at the wedding in Cana, and probably healed a few sick people.

His reputation precedes him, we can see in verses 14 & 15 - "Reports about him spread quickly through the whole region. He taught regularly in their synagogues and was praised by everyone."
People had heard about Jesus, they had heard of the effects that He had on people, they had heard of the miracles that He had done........just like you probably have.

In synagogues even guests could speak, Jesus was asked to read from the scroll of Isaiah (which can now be found in our Old Testament) and Jesus turns right to Isaiah 61, which is known as one of the Messianic prophesies. He then reads “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, 19 and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.”

It was custom to read from the scroll, place it back, sit down, then once you were seated to elaborate on what you had just read. Jesus does the same and all eyes are on Him.

Then just as now, when Jesus is doing what you want Him to do, what you expect Him to do, you're okay with it. As long as He's just some idea that some people are into, as long as He is just another religion (and you're not really into religion), as long as He's not God....then you're fine with it.

Jesus says.....that's me, that verse that I just read that was written some 400+ years ago...that's about me.  “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!”

Everyone spoke well of him and was amazed by the gracious words that came from his lips. Literally this mean "the words of grace" that proceded from his mouth. Notice that no one really has a problem with him yet. Not until....

 “How can this be?” they asked. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”

This is where things start to turn south. Everything is fine until Jesus starts talking about how He's the Messiah. What is their objection? "I know this guy! He's that carpenter! He can't be the Messiah, I already know all about this guy!"

Does that sound familiar? So many of us feel immune to Jesus because we've grown up in the church. "I've heard all this stuff before," or "I've tried Christianity and it didn't do anything for me." This is how Jesus responds to the incredulity...

Then he said, “You will undoubtedly quote me this proverb: ‘Physician, heal yourself’—meaning, ‘Do miracles here in your hometown like those you did in Capernaum.’ 

This is the cry of everyone who doesn't want to believe in Jesus. "Sure, I'd believe in Him if He would just show himself! Have Him do some sort of miracle and then I'd believe! Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence! Provide that and then I'll believe!"

How does Jesus respond to that? How does Jesus respond to you?

He says......you are proud, I will not dance to your tune. I am the Creator and you are the creature.

Jesus gives examples in the past of where the pride of the Jewish people has kept God's mercy away from them and the people become furious and try to get rid of Jesus.

This is the same pattern today. You're okay to hear about Jesus until He convicts you of your pride, then you want nothing to do with Him.




But wait, there's good news to be had here.

This is who Jesus is...

He brings Good News to the poor, He sets captives free, He makes the blind to see, and He sets the oppressed free.

Get rid of your pride! Look at your life, is it going the way you want it to go? Of the people Jesus listed (the widow and the leper)...you know why it's good news that He uses them as examples? The only thing they had to offer Jesus was empty pockets, empty hands, and a need for Him.

What's going on in your life now that's bringing you down? Do you feel stuck in a job? Do you feel unsatisfied with your friends, your various electronic toys, your car, your house, your apartment? Do you feel stuck in a bad marriage or relationship and you can't breathe? Do you feel lost at sea in your life?


I'm saying to you, with the authority of the Word of God......Jesus has come to set you free.


The widow that is referenced in verse 25 & 26, she realized her need for a Savior and the Lord provided for her both practically with food and Spiritually.

The leper referenced in verse 27, he realized his need for a Savior and the Lord brought him healing and restoration.

The good news is that Jesus came to set the oppressed free....in order for that to work in your life, you have to first realize that you are oppressed, that you are blind, that you are captive, that you are poor and that you can't fix the situation......you need a Savior.

James 4:6 (NASB95) — 6 But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

Matthew 11:28–30 (NLT) — 28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”