REACTION OF TWO CITIES TO THE MINISTRY OF JESUS
Luke 4:14-44
Introduction: JESUS’ Judean Ministry (Between v. 13 & v. 14; John 1-4)
A. Calls His first disciples (John 1: 35-51)
B. Performs His first miracle (John 2: 1-11)
C. First cleanses the Temple (John 2: 12-25)
D. Meets Nicodemus (John 3: 1-36)
E. The woman at the well (John 4: 1-42)
F. Heals the Official’s son (John 4: 43-56)
I. His HOMETOWN’S {Nazareth} REJECTION (vv. 14-30)
A. His Power
* The Flame that burned within Him.
+ The Holy Spirit came upon Him at His baptism. (3:22)
+ The Holy Spirit Filled Him in preperation for His temptation and ministry. (4:1)
+ The Holy Spirit led Him into the wilderness. (4:1)
+ The Holy Spirit empowered Him for ministry. (4:14)
* The Fame that spread before Him.
+ People couldn’t help but talk about Hum. (4:14)
+ He taught in their synagogues. (4:15)
+ People praised Him. (4:15)
B. His Preaching
* In the Synagogue.
+ Nazareth -
> Small insignificant place (John 1: 46)
> Hometown of Joseph & Mary
> Place where JESUS grew up
> Mentioned only 29 times in the Bible, mostly in connection with JESUS’ Name.
+ His custom -
> He had grown up here, learning the Law.
+ The Synagogue -
> Wherever there were 10 Jewish men, they could form a synagogue.
> It was a place of worship through singing, praying, and studying the Scripture.
+ The Sabbath -
> Set aside by God as a day of rest.
> Jewish tradition had added many oppressive rules regarding the keeping of the Sabbath.
* With the Scripture
+ The Prophesy of Isaiah (61:1-2)
> "Anointed with the Holy Spirit...
# The lost are BANKRUPT - "to preach "Good-News" to the poor (Matt. 5:3)
- JESUS provides RICHES.
# The lost are BOUND - "to proclaim freedom (Rom. 8)
- JESUS provides RELEASE.
# The lost are BLIND - "Recovery of sight to the blind (II Cor. 4:4)
- JESUS provides RECOVERY of sight.
# The lost are BURDENED - "Release the oppressed
- JESUS provides REMOVAL of our burdens.
> "to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor...
Note: JESUS stopped His quotation in the middle of the verse. The reason being that the
other portions of the prophesy were for a future fulfillment.
> JESUS sat down to preach His sermon.
> He claimed that He was the fulfillment of O.T. prophecies concerning the Messiah.
+ Amazement of those who heard -
+ 2 Proverbs - Common, but not in the O.T.
> "Physician heal thyself..." i.e. Establish your claims here as you have done elsewhere."
> "No prophet is accepted in His hometown." i.e.
Familiarity breeds contempt.
+ 2 Illustrations of show God’s love for Gentiles, and the willingness of Gentiles to accept
the blessings of salvation while the Jews remained in unbelief.
1. Elijah and the widow in Zarephath
2. Elisha and Naaman the leper
C. His Persecution
* Their anger at the revelation of their bigotry.
* Their attempt to kill Jesus.
II. His HEADQUARTER’S {Capernanum} RECEPTION (4:31-44)
A. Amazed at His Words.
* JESUS was both a teacher & a preacher.
+ To teach is to communicate truth.
+ To preach is to exhort men to respond to the truth presented.
* Three N.T. words translated "teach" are used of JESUS.
+ RABBI - an official religious teacher
+ EPIDTATAS - the head-master of a corp of cadets
+ DIDASKALOS - a master teacher
* According to educational standards of His time, JESUS was untrained & unlearned,
and therefore never claimed the office of teacher for Himself.
* His classroom was the street of a town, the seashore, the open countryside, a village well,
the court of the temple, and the Jewish Synagogue (until they ran Him out).
* His students were as varied as His classroom. No one was too high, no one was too low.
The learned Doctor of the Law, or the sinful woman at the well; the rich young ruler or
the poor blind beggar: Each person was of great value to Him.
* His taught with simplicity. His language was the everyday speech of the common
man; His illustration were taken the common experiences of His hearers, His subjects
were the practical problems of everyday life. And, "They were amazed at His
teaching!"
* He taught with courage. Neither objection nor criticism ever stopped Him from saying
what had to be said. He praised goodness, condemned sin, denounced hypocrisy, and
called sinners to repent. Though many hated Him & did not like His message, the
attitude of men did not change the manner of His teaching or the truth He taught. And
"They were amazed at His teaching!"
* He taught with authority. His teaching was remarkably different that that of the scribes
of His day. They appealed to the writings of the rabbis and the traditions of the elders;
He appealed only to the Word of God. Their teachings dealt with the traditions of the
fathers; His dealt with the TRUTH of His Father. They issued good advice and wise
counsel; He issued demands to which they must answer before God. And, "They were
amazed at His teaching!"
* He taught with compassion. His desire was to help, not hurt. He wasn’t concerned about
delivering a slick lecture on religion, but rather His concern was for the hurting, the
bruised, the poor, the burdened, and the sinner. He knew that the answer to all of man’s
problems was would be found in a right relationship with the Heavenly Father. And, He
knew also that the truth He proclaimed could change man’s heart and bring him into
that right relationship. And, "They were amazed at His teaching!
B. Amazed at His Work.
* He cast out demons.
* He healed Peter’s mother-in-law.
* He healed all that were brought to Him.
C. Amazed at His Ways.
* He spent time communing with the Father.
* He emphasized the preaching of the "Good-News".
