Jesus' Purpose and Ours

Luke 4:14-21

Can you imagine being in the synagogue in Nazareth when Jesus stood up to read the scriptures?  This was Jesus' home town.  You have heard about the miracles he has been performing but you remember him as the carpenter's son.  Home town boy who has made it to the big time!

He goes to the front of the synagogue, unrolls the scroll and reads from Isaiah:  The Spirit of the Lord is upon me....to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.

Jesus finishes reading, carefully rolls the scroll back up, sits down, and then says something that no one thought they would hear him say:

"Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." (v. 21)

The crowd is amazed:  "Isn't this Joseph's son?" they asked.  Jesus then tells them that 'no prophet is accepted in his hometown' (v. 24) and later in the passage, we see that the hometown folks turn on him and drive him away.  They can't accept that one of their own claims to be God.

Jesus was steeped in scripture.  The claim that he makes in his hometown synagogue is an audacious one:  he is the fulfillment of these prophecies.  God in the flesh.  He doesn't claim to be a moral teacher.  He claims to be the I AM.

What do we do with this claim?  Do we reject it?  Do we fall at his feet and call him Lord?  Do we say, I'll think about that later?  To not decide is to decide.  I am assuming that as a Bible Blast reader, you have decided to follow Jesus, but if you are wavering, I urge you to open your heart to Jesus.  He is waiting for you now.  He has good news and he loves you and you can't earn it.  But you do have to accept it and put him in charge of your life.  Amen!

Many of us accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior years and years ago.  My prayer for you is that this passage will inspire you to fall in love with him all over again.  Read the rest of this chapter and be challenged by his life and ministry.  Ask him how your life can be one that is lived for him and brings others into the kingdom.  Amen!