Reaction Of Two Cities To The Ministry Of Jesus Series

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