The Compassionate Authority of Christ (Luke 4:31-44)

2023-05-15

How do you respond when you face rejection? In Luke's Gospel, the first thing Jesus does after the Temptation - after a quick general overview (3:14-15) - is to spend some time at home. In his home town and the synagogue where he grew up, he read a key text from Isaiah, announced that it was being fulfilled, and then things got interesting. By the end of the Sabbath service, the hometown hero was about to be tossed off a cliff. Later, when Jesus sends out the 12 and the 72, he instructs them...

How do you respond when you face rejection?

In Luke's Gospel, the first thing Jesus does after the Temptation - after a quick general overview (3:14-15) - is to spend some time at home. In his home town and the synagogue where he grew up, he read a key text from Isaiah, announced that it was being fulfilled, and then things got interesting. By the end of the Sabbath service, the hometown hero was about to be tossed off a cliff.

Later, when Jesus sends out the 12 and the 72, he instructs them to stay in the homes and the towns that welcomes them and their message, but for those who don't - simply move on.

In this first chapter of Jesus' ministry, Jesus is doing just that. He leaves Nazareth, and makes his way to Capernaum. This will become "home-base" for the rest of Jesus ministry in the region.

And here we see Jesus enacting the message of Isaiah that he had read in Nazareth. Jesus will teach and proclaim the Gospel with power and authority, but it will be displayed in compassion for the poor, the captives, the blind, the oppressed, because Jesus has come to declare the Year of the Lord's Favour.

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