People make judgments about us all of the time. It’s not so much that they are judgmental, but that they get to meet us or get to know us based on certain associations. I know, by virtue of the fact that I’m a pastor, when I introduce myself to people, they make an immediate judgment. If they had a bad experience with a pastor in the past, they may take a step back or give me a questioning look. If they had a good experience, they may have a different reaction. When they hear I’m a pastor of a baptist church, there is another whole series of responses.
I know I’m not alone in this. Whether it’s our background, place of origin, skin color, career, body type, parents, education, etc., people will make assumptions and judgments about all of us.
We are in good company - because they did that with Jesus to!
As we read earlier, Jesus visited his home town of Nazareth and another town in the region of Galilee, Capernaum, and received completely different responses. In one, He was judged because His teaching and His heritage did not seem to match up. In the other, people judged him on different standards.
If you have your copy of God’s word, open to Luke 4. We’ll be looking at verses 14-44.
So, after Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, he was led by the Spirit to begin his work. Luke provides a bit of a summary of his ministry.
Luke 4:14–15 ESV
And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.
Over the next several weeks, we’ll see this pattern of ministry play out - showing up in synagogues, teaching, and often healing.
Here, this first synagogue that Luke tells us about is in his hometown of Nazareth. Because people thought they knew him, or at least knew what to expect of his family, we see first of all that they…
Rejected Jesus as son of Joseph (14-30)
As was his pattern, he came to the synagogue. On this specific day, he was given the opportunity to read from the scroll of Isaiah. As Luke reveals this encounter, some commentators delineate it as two cycles of conversation - an action or teaching on Jesus part, followed by a response from the assembly.
Cycle 1: Scripture, sermonette, suspicion
Jesus took the scroll of the book of Isaiah, found the place that he wanted to read. In our bibles, this is Isaiah 61:1-2. He read the passage
Luke 4:18–19 ESV
“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.”
He returned the scroll and sat down - taking the position of a teacher. Then he shared a very brief message.
Luke 4:21 ESV
And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
What did he mean by that? Is he claiming to be the one about whom the prophet spoke? Is he he claiming anointing? How do his words fulfill that prophecy?
Initially, people marvelled and were intrigued by what he said, eventually responding - “isn’t this Joseph’s son?”
Of course, these Nazarenes don’t have the benefit of having read the first four chapters of Luke’s gospel. They did, however, have the opportunity to see Jesus grow up in the context of his earthly family - and assumed that Jesus was Joseph’s son. It’s as though they are marveling at the fact that Jesus would be able to speak in profound ways given his blue-collar background, after all, Joseph was a carpenter.
They conclude this cycle of the conversation with curiosity or suspicion.
So Jesus returns their curiosity with controversy as he starts cycle 2:
Cycle 2: Proverb, historical precedent, hostility
We could say that he shares a proverb or a parable and an historic precedent for the work of God, to which they respond with hostility.
Jesus seems to begin by poking the bear:
Luke 4:23 ESV
And he said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘ “Physician, heal yourself.” What we have heard you did at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.’ ”
He then goes on to talk about the fact that in the days of Elijah and Elisha, there were many people in need, but God had these men work in the lives of some foreigners - a widow in Sidon and a Syrian leper. Jesus uses these accounts of Elijah and Elisha and the unbelief of the Israelites of their day to point out the unbelief of the people of Nazareth in Jesus’ day.
Because they couldn’t get past their false conclusion about Jesus being the son of Joseph, they respond with hostility and seek to push him off of a cliff.
But, how do you view Jesus? Who is Jesus to you?
Is he a good, moral teacher? Is he a religious guru?
If that is all he is, then you’re not seeing Jesus for who he really is. You see, yes, his teachings are good and he is moral. He pushes back against religious systems in order to awaken people to God’s true intentions in the world.
However, if Jesus is just a good human, then you’ve missed the point of His life. If he is just a good teacher, then you’ve missed power of what he can accomplish in your life. If he is only these things, then he is just an add-on, an accessory.
Thabiti Anyabwile has said, “Jesus meets our greatest needs when we recognize Him as Son of God.”
The people of Nazareth rejected him because they incorrectly saw him only as the son of Joseph.
However, Luke helps us see that the people of Capernaum…
Recognized Jesus as Son of God (31-44)
As a result, Jesus did some profound things in their midst.
It’s unclear if Luke is laying out a chronological timeline or if he is doing something more theologically, but in the next set of pericopes we find Jesus in Capernaum. As was his pattern, we also find him in the synagogue teaching on the Sabbath.
Where His teaching in Nazareth garnered suspicion, the people of Capernaum seemed to receive Jesus because of the…
authority of His teaching (32, 42-44)
There are some people who can speak and teach with great charisma. Some might even be able to “fake it til they make it.” For Jesus, His teaching was different. He demonstrated genuine authority. He not only had a grasp of the Scriptures intellectually, but He also had a practical mastery.
In response to the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew notes:
Matthew 7:28–29 ESV
And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.
So too, here in Capernaum, the people were “astonished” or amazed or overwhelmed at the authority of His teaching. When His time of ministry in Capernaum came to an end, they didn’t want to let him go. But he insisted that He must “preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well.” (43).
How do we view Jesus’ teaching? Do we receive it with the same sense of authority that they did? Do we sit at his feet in eager delight in what He says? Do we long for more? Do we believe that His Word still has power today?
There are some people, like the people of Nazareth, who will seem to sit in judgment over the Word of God and over the teachings of Scripture, rather than recognizing the authority of the Word and submitting to it.
While there in Capernaum, Jesus exorcized demons from some people. As the demons left these individuals, they cried out about the nature of Jesus. So, not only did the people recognize Jesus as the Son of God on the authority of his teaching, but also on the…
acknowledgment of demons (33-37, 41)
Now, I realize it seems odd to see this as a good thing, but we do have to recognize that these demons could not stand up to Jesus because of who is as the Son of God.
Luke 4:33–35 ESV
And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, “Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm.
Being spiritual beings themselves, demons could see with clear eyes the nature of their Enemy. They also could not oppose Him as they had no authority.
But, when the other humans around saw and heard what happened, they began to take notice:
Luke 4:36–37 ESV
And they were all amazed and said to one another, “What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!” And reports about him went out into every place in the surrounding region.
The demons almost could not help but acknowledge Jesus divinity. And yet, how often do we shy away from proclaiming His Lordship? Will you and I let demons proclaim the identity of Christ louder than we will?
Do we truly believe that Jesus is the Christ, the holy one, the son of God?
James 2:19 ESV
You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!
People in Capernaum began to recognize and receive Jesus as the Son of God by his teaching and the testimony of demons, and finally, by the…
authenticity of His healing (38-40)
Back in Nazareth, Jesus did not do any miraculous things. He did not heal people. But in Capernaum, where they believed in who he was, He was able to touch their lives in the places where they needed Him most.
Luke 4:38–40 ESV
And he arose and left the synagogue and entered Simon’s house. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was ill with a high fever, and they appealed to him on her behalf. And he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her, and immediately she rose and began to serve them.
Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them.
Now, we have not met Simon yet, but we do get to see that Jesus did something wonderful for his family - healing his mother in law. Then, as the day went on - did you notice what happened? ALL those who were sick - Jesus healed EVERY ONE of them.
It seems they believed that Jesus had authority and power.
Back in Nazareth, he rebuked the people of his hometown because of their unbelief, but here he rewarded the people of Capernaum for their belief with healing.
Friend, if you don’t yet believe in Jesus, who is he to you? What does he have authority and power to do? What is the deepest need of your life? Jesus said that he came to proclaim good news to the poor. He’s declaring to you abundant and eternal life. He said that he was sent to proclaim liberty to captives. In Jesus, there is freedom from the bondage of sin. He said that he was sent to bring liberty to the oppressed. The same Jesus who freed people from the oppression of demons and sickness, can liberate you from the oppression that you’re facing. There may be some physical healing or suffering that you’d like him to fix - but the place where he can truly address your deepest need is at the very core of who you are - dealing with your sin and then transforming you! Come to him today. Acknowledge that Jesus has the authority and the power to heal your sin-sick soul and grant you eternal life! Receive him as the son of God!
There is one other element that I think we need to consider. Jesus was rejected in Nazareth because people saw him as only the son of Joseph. He was recognized as the son of God in Capernaum and was able to fulfill so many of the things that he read about in Isaiah because they recognized Him for who he is - the Son of God. Finally, beloved, brother in sister in Christ, you and I may have received Him as Savior, but do we…
Revere Jesus as Lord (42)
The people in Capernaum sought after Jesus. When He began to make his way to other towns, they wanted to compel Him to stay. They wanted what He had.
What about us? There are times when we may be inclined to trust in Jesus for our salvation, but not allow Him to transform us for fear that we will miss out. The demon possessed and the in-firmed were transformed by Jesus’ power. Those who heard were transformed by the authority of His teaching.
Did you notice where Jesus had a “custom” of showing up? In their synagogues. He went to the place where God’s things and human things interact. He went to the place where people seek the things of God. It was a familiar place. It was a hope-filled place. It was a misunderstood place. One of the reasons that the people sought to listen to Jesus is that they could see that what He taught had a different weight than their religious leaders’ teachings. After all, He is God so in conveying things about God in this intersection between God’s space and human space He is speaking about things he knows.
Each week we gather here. We gather as people who are indwelled by the Spirit of God. We come to adore Him as Lord. We come to hear His Word. When His Word and His Spirit speak with authority and conviction, are we listening? When we leave this place, do we leave Him here too?
Do we so revere him as Lord that we’re willing to devote every aspect of our lives for His glory?
Do we trust that Jesus can address our sin problems but not our other problems? Do we try to fix the messes of our lives with our own solutions? Do we believe Jesus has the authority and power to forgive and heal and liberate?
Are we trying to keep Jesus stashed away in a safe place and only come to him at convenient times and Sundays?
Closing thoughts
In Jesus’ hometown, the people rejected Him and His teaching because they only saw Him as the son of Joseph.
In nearby Capernaum - the people began to glimpse who He is as the Son of God. As a result - he taught with authority and healed with power.
How will we respond in Poolesville? Will we recognize and revere Him or will we reject Him? Are we living as practical atheists or do we live as those who are trusting Him fully?
Let’s pray.
Benediction
Hebrews 13:20–21 ESV
Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Sources:
Anyabwile, Thabiti. Exalting Jesus in Luke. Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary. Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2018.
Beeke, Joel R., and Paul M. Smalley. Reformed Systematic Theology: Man and Christ. Vol. 2. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2020.
Bock, Darrell L. Luke 1:1-9:50. Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1999.
Ferguson, Sam “Compelling People: the allure of Christ likeness in an identity confused culture.” Cross Conference 2025.
Martin, John A. “Luke.” In The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, edited by J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985.
McKinley, Mike. Luke 1–12 for You. Edited by Carl Laferton. God’s Word for You. The Good Book Company, 2016.
Stewart, R. A. “Passover.” Edited by D. R. W. Wood, I. H. Marshall, A. R. Millard, J. I. Packer, and D. J. Wiseman. New Bible Dictionary. Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1996.
Wilcock, Michael. The Savior of the World: The Message of Luke’s Gospel. The Bible Speaks Today. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1979.
