Confrontation in Nazareth (7)

 

And Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about Him spread through all the surrounding region. And He began teaching in their synagogues and was praised by all. And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read. And the scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to Him. And He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:

 

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He anointed Me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.”

 

And He rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down; and the eyes of all the people in the synagogue were intently directed at Him. Now He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” And all the people were speaking well of Him, and admiring the gracious words which were coming from His lips; and yet they were saying, “Is this not Joseph’s son?”  (Luke 4:14 – 22).

 

Before Jesus returns to His hometown of Nazareth, He is teaching in synagogues elsewhere in Galilee, with news about Him spreading throughout the region, including back to His hometown (see verse 23).

 

What are the folks at home thinking as they hear the news about Jesus? Are they excited? Are they thankful that the neighbor they’ve known since a child is being used by God? What are they saying to one another as they hear about miracles?

 

Do they wonder why Jesus didn’t begin His ministry in Nazareth and put Nazareth on the map? Why Capernaum before Nazareth? Who does He know in Capernaum? Is Jesus going to be able to improve Nazareth’s reputation? (See John 1:46).

 

Were the teachers in Nazareth’s synagogue taking credit for Jesus?

 

“He was such a good boy in Sabbath school.”

 

“He paid attention to what I taught Him.”

 

Were some saying, “But He hasn’t been to rabbinical school”?

 

Were the leaders thinking, “We can expand our synagogue with Him. We can gain membership. We can finally begin fundraising for a new building, with a rabbinical school attached to it.”

 

Were the hometown folks looking forward to His return? Did the synagogue leaders have plans for Jesus? Were they going to take ownership of Jesus?

 

Were some already thinking, “Who does He think He is?”

 

Were some jealous?

 

Whether or not there was consensus about Jesus prior to His return to Nazareth, there was consensus before the day was over, “All the people in the synagogue were filled with rage as they heard these things” (Luke 4:28). Opposition to Jesus Christ has a way of uniting people, including those in leadership, such a Pilate and Herod (Luke 23:12; see also Psalm 2).

 

Assuming the people attending synagogue were part of the human race, we can be sure that when Jesus arrived that they scrutinized Him. Did He look the same? Was His face the same? What about His clothes? Was He acting different? Is He speaking to others, greeting them just like old times?

 

Did Jesus come to Nazareth by Himself, or were there some already following Him? If so, what do these people look like? Are they friendly, or are they aloof? Should we welcome them or wait to get to know them?

 

What expectations of Jesus did the synagogue’s leadership have? What did the congregation expect of Jesus?

 

As you place yourself in Nazareth and its synagogue, sitting in the third pew from the front, in the seat by the aisle, what are you thinking and feeling? What are you expecting?