Jesus begins His public Ministry, here is His reception, “All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. They got up, drove Jesus out of the town, and took Him to the brow of the hill, in order to THROW HIM OFF THE CLIFF. But He walked right through the crowd and went on his way.” (Luke 4:28-30)
What in the world made them so mad? “Jesus went to into the synagogue, as was His custom. He stood up to read, the prophet Isaiah…HE FOUND THE PLACE where it is written: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back and sat down…EVERYONE’S EYES WERE FASTENED ON HIM. He began, “Today this scripture is FULFILLED IN YOUR HEARING.” (Luke 4:16-21)
You see Since Rome occupied Palestine during Jesus’ ministry, most Jews were convinced that God would send a MILITARY MESSIAH who would throw the foreigners out. This Jesus couldn’t be the Messiah, He was just going to be kind to and heal people!!! But know this, “Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For BY HIM ALL THINGS WERE CREATED that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created by Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him ALL THINGS CONSIST…For it pleased the Father that IN HIM all the fullness should dwell…” (Col.1:15-17, 19)
-Bill Stockham