Pam's Perambulation

I don’t know if you’ve ever been to a book reading.  A book, read by its author, with the understanding and emphases that they intended for it, can be quite different to how we read it ourselves.  It can have a whole new meaning and impression.

Luke 4:14-21

Jesus Begins His Work

¹⁴ Jesus returned to Galilee with the power of the Spirit. News about him spread everywhere. ¹⁵ He taught in the Jewish meeting places, and everyone praised him.

The People of Nazareth Turn against Jesus

¹⁶ Jesus went back to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and as usual he went to the meeting place on the Sabbath. When he stood up to read from the Scriptures, ¹⁷ he was given the book of Isaiah the prophet. He opened it and read,

²⁰ Jesus closed the book, then handed it back to the man in charge and sat down. Everyone in the meeting place looked straight at Jesus.

²¹ Then Jesus said to them, “What you have just heard me read has come true today.”

You’ve got to love this passage – Jesus begins his work, and within one verse, the people of Nazareth turn against him.  That is some going, quite a response!  In Galilee they praised him, but when he “came home” to Nazareth, they’re not so keen on what he has to say.  But more about that next week…

For now, let’s look at what it is Jesus says.

Jesus is given the prophecy from Isaiah to read.  He reads it, and then says to them quite plainly,

What you have just heard me read has come true today

Wow!  Quite a claim.  Jesus is pulling no punches.  Right from the start of the ministry, he tells them that he is the one who has come to fulfil what God promised. He is here – to do God’s thing.  He has come to bring good news to the poor; to announce freedom for those who are imprisoned; to give sight to the blind; and to free the suffering.  And here, now, this is the year the Lord has chosen.

This is what Jesus has come to do.  Are they ready.  Are they going to welcome him, receive him and all he has to bring?

Jesus comes today to us.  He’s still saying the same thing.  Still offering the same deal, fulfilling the same promises.  What is our response?

Lord,

in my life,

in this place,may I allow you

to still do your thing:

to tell the good news

to the poor’

to announce freedom

for prisoners,

to give sight to the blind,

to free everyone

who suffers,

 and to say,

‘This is the year

the Lord has chosen’

In me

and through me,

in your name