“Jesus came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as was His custom, He went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and He stood up to read…the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to Jesus. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, “The Spirit of the Lord IS UPON ME, because He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” And He rolled up the scroll and 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.” (Luke 4:16-21)
Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in His hometown.” (Luke 4:24) “When they heard these things, ALL in the synagogue WERE FILLED WITH WRATH. And they rose up and DROVE HIM OUT OF THE TOWN and brought Him to the brow of the hill (a cliff about forty feet high close to the city) on which their town was built, so that they could THROW HIM DOWN THE CLIFF. But PASSING THROUGH THEIR MIDST, He went away.” (Luke 4:28-30) Judaism is the world’s oldest monotheistic religion, dating back nearly 4,000 years. Followers of Judaism believe in ONE GOD (not a Father and a Son and a Holy Spirit that’s three) who revealed Himself through ancient prophets. Jewish people believe there’s ONLY ONE GOD who has established a covenant—or special agreement—with them. Most Jews believe (still today) that their Messiah HASN’T YET COME—BUT WILL ONE DAY. That is why the anti-christ will be able to MAKE A COVENANT, as their Messiah. The covenant that the anti-Christ makes with Israel is called The 70th week of Daniel. “He (the anti-christ) will oppose and will EXALT HIMSELF OVER EVERYTHING THAT IS CALLED GOD or is worshiped, so that HE SETS HIMSELF UP in God’s temple, PROCLAIMING HIMSELF TO BE GOD.” (2 Thessalonians 2:4) This is when the Jews flee, “…then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.” (Matthew 24:16) Where God will hide them from the beast.
Jesus said to the Jews, “…if the Son sets you free, you will be FREE INDEED. I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A WAY TO KILL ME, because you have no room for my word…IF GOD WERE YOUR FATHER, YOU WOULD LOVE ME, for I came from God and I am here…Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear TO HEAR MY WORD. You are of YOUR FATHER THE DEVIL, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is NO TRUTH IN HIM When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and THE FATHER OF LIES. But because I tell the truth, YOU DO NOT BELIEVE ME.” (John 8: 36-37, 42-45)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham