Rejection In Nazareth

The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. (NASB) Numbers 6:24-26.

When it was time for Jesus to stand and read from the Prophets, the attendant or the minister of the synagogue took the scroll that had been selected for the morning, removed it from its cloth covering, and handed it to Him.

And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written, “THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED, TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD.” (NASB) Luke 4:17-19

Jesus unrolled the scroll and read only a portion of Isa. 61:1-2. The passage was about Him. As we have already discovered, the Spirit of the Lord was constantly upon Him for ministry. This was the pattern of His life (Luke 3:22; 4:1, 14). He had been called to preach to the poor and helpless, and He did so throughout His ministry (Luke 4:43). He came proclaiming that the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand (Matt. 4:17). Their freedom from sin was near. He healed many and set free those who were oppressed by demon possession and disease. Jesus did all of these things, and they had heard the amazing reports, which claimed that He did.

And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” (NASB) Luke 4:20-21

Their eyes were fixed on Him. The Greek language says that the people were “staring” at Him. Their eyes were “glued to Him.” Everyone was watching to see what He would do or say next. Jesus must have sensed that He had their attention when He said, “Today, this scripture has been fulfilled . . . ” The message was simple. He was the fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah 61:1. He was the promised One - the Messiah!