Text: Luke 4:14-32

Introduction.

Luke 4:16 "he went to the Synagogue."
Would we go to a Synagogue?
Place led by the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees.Masters of the Jewish Law.
3 reasons guided Jesus to the Synagogue.

• The name of God was respected.
• The Holy Scriptures were honored.
• The Sabbath was honored.

The Sabbath:It means: "that is enough,that is it.I will stop!"It is what Sunday means to the Church.
It is Jesus' first visit to his hometown, when he begins his ministry.
(We get no information from 12 to 30 years of age.)
The Gospels inform us that he has been to Nazareth only twice.
( Matthew 13:53-58 and Matthew 6:1-6 )

A) The celebration in the Synagogue.

Wherever there were 10 Jewish families together,there could be a Synagogue.
There was only one Temple,but many Synagogues.
Wherever there were 10 Jewish families together,there could be a Synagogue.
The celebration in the Synagogue had 3 distinct moments:

• Prayer and worship.
• Reading of an Old Testament text.
• Explanation of this text.

Anyone present could be invited to take part in this moment.
The only reference to the fact that Jesus could read.
It was probably Hebrew translated into aramaic.

B) The reading of Isaiah 61.

It is an intentional reading and courageous too.
Luke 4:21 "I am this Messiah."
He knew that the Jews were waiting for a political and temporary Messiah.
Jesus was the Messiah who would bring spiritual victories instead of political ones.
Illustration: "Riding a white horse or a donkey."
Jesus was the Messiah who came to reign over the demons,not over the Romans.
That was the message of the text.
Luke 4: 18-19. He was a Messiah for all.
It was something "profane" since the gentiles had been created to "be consumed by the fire of hell."

C) Jesus' mission, the Messiah.

Luke 4:18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,for he has anointed me...."
Men anoint with oil,but the Lord anoints with the Holy Spirit.
- " to evangelize the poor"- giving the richness of the good news away.(pearl)
- "to heal the weary and the ones oppressed by the yoke of sin." ( Matthew 11:28-30. )
- "freedom to the captives"-work of grace,favor not deserved.( Galatians 5:1-13 )
- "Light to the blind" the ones who are in the darkness of sin.

Conclusion.

Luke 4:25. The widow who had faith was not Jewish.
The man with leprosy Naaman, who had faith,was not Jewish either.
The listeners know these stories very well.
Luke 4:29. They banished Jesus from Nazareth.
Luke 4:31 He is welcome in Capernaum,where He centralizes his ministry.
Faith produces miracles. Miracles do not always produce faith.
Jesus was sent away in Nazareth.He was welcome in Capernaum.
Where is "your hometown?"