Jesus Rejected at Nazareth

Prayer Practice

Breath Prayer – Take 2-3 minutes today to pray a simple breath prayer. Get somewhere quiet and relaxing. Breathe in deeply, and then breathe out fully. As you breathe in, ask God to fill you with His presence, grace, love, peace, etc. Consider using the list of spiritual fruit in Galatians 5:22-23. As you breathe out, offer to God the things you need Him to take from you – sin, doubt, shame, anxiety, fear, etc. Pray this way for just a few minutes, trusting God to work, and then begin reading today’s Scripture.

DAILY READING

Luke 4:14-30

REFLECTION

Unexpected

 by Kelsey Bacon

Has God ever worked in an unexpected way in your life? I'm sure for most of us the answer is yes. Many of us can probably think of an example right off the top of our heads. And for me personally, I know that the way God worked in my life unexpectedly had me looking uncomfortably similar to the crowd driving Jesus out of town at the end of today's story.

The path that the Lord took me on that led me to my job here at UALC was a strange one. For six and a half years I was so sure that my destiny, God's ordained plan for my life, was to be a teacher in Chicago. I was so positive that this was what he had planned for me that I never stopped to think what other options might be, and never stopped to ask God if I was on the right track. I was too sure. So I was understandably shaken when, right before I was supposed to start my student teaching in Chicago senior year of college, I felt a sudden call to possibly come back to UALC and seek out a job in full time ministry. I was not expecting this from God, and boy was I angry at him. I had my whole life planned out, I had had everything lined up for years, I thought I knew what the right answers were--much like the people Jesus to whom Jesus preached in Nazareth that day. They thought they had the right answers, they thought they knew the correct way, they thought they had God all figured out.

As I reflect on this story, I think about how unfazed Jesus was by all of this. Not only that he couldn't be physically harmed by this murderous crowd, but he was untouched by their anger and disbelief. He didn't get angry and shout at them, or try to explain himself away, he just spoke the truth and put it into action. I look at this story and I see why it is that we are meant to lean on Jesus, why it is that God is who we're following instead of ourselves. The people in the crowd were self-righteous, pious, proud, and even dangerous. But Jesus told the truth, and his truth withstood their anger.

Jesus did not speak or act as he was expected to. Jesus still speaks, acts, moves in our lives in ways we don't expect. And he asks us merely to hear his truth, and to respond.

Reflect Further: How can you respond to Jesus today? Pray and ask God to show you where he is working in your life.

Jesus, Rejected at Nazareth

PRAYER PRACTICE

Lectio – Read today’s passage through once. Then spend some time praying and asking God to show you what you need to pay attention to in the text. Read it again. Now ask God to help you see what this text, and the part that has stood out, may mean for you. Don’t expect to get a clear word every time but always be ready to really hear from God through His Word.

Daily Reading  

Luke 4:14-30

REFLECTION

Hometown Hero

by Tom Richards

In today’s reading we learn that Jesus has returned to his hometown of Nazareth. Nazareth was a small town (population thought to be 200 – 400 people) in the northern region of Galilee. It was primarily an agricultural community and seems to have been held in some contempt in first century Palestine as noted in John 1:46 when Nathaniel asks, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” This feeling may have stemmed from local rivalries or more likely the humble nature of this rural community. 

Jesus was apparently living in or near Capernaum at this time. Matthew 4:12-14 states: “When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee. Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali — to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah.” And, in Mark 2:1 the writer says: “A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home.” This provides some perspective on Luke 4:23 in today’s reading where we learn that Jesus had performed miracles as part of his ministry in Capernaum, and the people of Nazareth had heard the “rumors”. Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself!’ And you will tell me, ‘Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.’” 

Even though Jesus was raised in Nazareth, it does not appear that the people knew who he really was. When he tried to explain it to them things did not end well as we see at the end of today’s reading. With this background, can you in some small way relate to the skepticism Jesus encountered from the people he grew up with? Have you ever felt uncomfortable about your faith walk among people from your “hometown”? Have you ever been skeptical regarding someone you knew at a different time in their life (and yours) who now openly confesses their faith? Unlike Jesus, no one has lived a sinless life and most of us have “baggage” in our past (and the present), especially our youth. So… those who knew us then may remember and point out these faults as we try to live our faith today. And we may find ourselves doing the same. 

But Jesus overcame all of this for us. He has forgiven our sins and the mistakes in our past and encourages us to live free of those burdens. He asks to show the same grace to others that he has shown to us. We can return to our “home towns” and confront mistakes we have made with the good news of the gospel. The news that “proclaims freedom for the prisoners, recovery of sight for the blind, and sets the oppressed free.” Thanks be to God!

Precious Savior, as we begin another day, we ask that you be a presence in our lives and a guiding light as we embrace the truth of your Word.