LISTEN TO JESUS: CONGREGATION'S REACTION TO JESUS'S DECLARATION

LUKE 4:22-31

CONGREGATION’S REACTION

TO JESUS’S DECLARATION

Luke 4:22 And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son?

Susie: How did the congregation react after Jesus read a messianic passage from Isaiah 61:1-2 and declared that it had been fulfilled while they were listening?

Susan: At first, they marveled at the eloquence of Jesus’ speech. However, then they asked themselves, “Isn’t this the village carpenter’s son? Isn’t Joseph His father?”

Luke 4:23 And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country.

Susie: Jesus realized their hesitation to accept that what He had just claimed could be true of a humble carpenter’s son. He prophesied that they would eventually say, as the mockers did at the cross:

Matthew 27:42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.

Susan: Jesus knew they would soon demand that He authenticate Himself by performing miracles in Nazareth like the ones He did in Capernaum.

Luke 4:24 And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.

Susie: Many of the Old Testament prophets were persecuted by their own people. Jeremiah, for example, was beaten, imprisoned, and thrown into a well. As we will see, Jesus was treated badly in His home-town of Nazareth.

Luke 4:25-27 But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias (Elijah), when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.

Susie: The point Jesus was making here was that Elijah was not accepted by the Jewish people who were in a time of rebellion against God and were worshipping Baal. Therefore, God sent him to minister to a Gentile widow (1 Kings 17:8-16).

Luke 4:27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus (Elisha) the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.

Susan: Naaman’s Jewish servant girl told him there was a prophet in Israel who could heal him. Again, God had Elisha heal a Gentile of leprosy rather than a Jewish leper (2 Kings 5) because of the unbelief of the Jews as a nation in his day.

Luke 4:28 And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,

The MacArthur Study Bible note:

4:28 filled with wrath. This is Luke’s first mention of hostile opposition to Christ’s ministry. What seems to have sparked the Nazarenes’ fury was Christ’s suggestion that divine grace might be withheld from them yet extended to Gentiles.

Susie: Because of their lack of belief in Jesus as Messiah, He would not do many miracles in His hometown. The implication that He would be more apt to perform healing for Gentiles than for the Jewish people He spoke to in the synagogue really got under their skin.

Susan: In the minds of these Jewish people of Nazareth, all Gentiles were infidels, pagans, worshipping other gods instead of the one true God. How dare the carpenter’s son think they were less worthy than the people of Capernaum, and certainly than Gentiles.

Luke 4:29 And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong.

Susan: The people who previously had “wondered at His gracious words,” now tried to hurl Jesus off a cliff to kill Him. But check it out, He became the invisible man!

Luke 4:30 But he passing through the midst of them went his way,

Susie: This was not the only time Jesus was able to simply walk away from a murderous group seemingly unnoticed. As Susan and I saw when studying the Gospel of John, the Lord protected Jesus until the moment the Father had predetermined for Him to be the final Passover Lamb sacrificed on the cross.

John 7:28-30 Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not. But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me. Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come.

John 8:59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

John 10:39 Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand

Luke 4:31 And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days.

Susan: After Jesus walked right through the crowd undetected, He left the town He grew up in and resumed His teaching ministry on sabbath days in Capernaum by the Sea of Galilee. I think the people of Nazareth were left scratching their heads when He disappeared!

Ways we can apply this to our lives:

·      Note that Jesus did not do many miracles in Nazareth because of their unbelief. When we pray about something, we must pray in faith.

·      See also James 1:5-7

LISTEN TO JESUS: FULFILLED THIS DAY

LISTEN TO JESUS

FULFILLED THIS DAY

Luke 4:16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

Susie: Jesus entered His home-town synagogue on the sabbath day and stood up to read from the scroll of the scriptures. Don’t miss the fact that it was His “custom” to be in a place of worship on the sabbath.

Susan: This should be a reminder to us of the need to gather together with other believers to worship and learn about God. We must not let Pastor Pillow and Sister Sheets win on Sunday mornings. LOL

Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Luke 4:17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias (Isaiah). And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,

Susie: I was wondering whether Jesus had specifically asked for this scroll or if was just the reading for that week. Therefore, we looked at the notes in one of our favorite resources when dealing with the Jewish background of the Bible:

The Complete Jewish Study Bible:

Note on Luke 4:16-17 – The custom in the synagogue now is to read through the Torah in a year. Another regular reading on Shabbat is called the haftarah (conclusion) consisting of portions from the Prophets or Writings related to the Torah portion of the week. It seems clear that if Yeshua (Jesus) was given the scroll of the prophet Isaiah, then He was being offered the haftarah reading, which is an honor given to a special guest.

Susie: The portion Jesus was given to read was Isaiah 61:1-2. He only read the first half of verse 2 because the second half relates to His future second coming to earth and was not applicable at the time.

Luke 4:18-19 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

Susie: Some viewed this portion of Isaiah as applying to the prophet himself, but others see it as something that could only be accomplished by God, i.e. the Messiah.

Susan: The Spirit—the anointing, power, the impassioned purpose—of the Lord was upon Him. The passage lists six pillars of this prophesied purpose:

1.       To preach the gospel to the poor—perhaps related to the “poor in spirit” of the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3)

2.       Heal the broken hearted—“them that mourn” (Matthew 5:4)

3.       Deliverance to the captives—those “oppressed” by Satan (Acts 10:38)

4.       Restore sight to the blind (John 9), and, also, those in dimly lit dungeons would now see the light of day

5.       To free the bruised or crushed—those suffering oppression—physically, mentally, and spiritually

6.       To preach the acceptable year of the Lord—the day of salvation (Isaiah 49:8) which was the primary reason the Son of God was incarnated as the God-Man.

Luke 4:20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.

Susan: As Jesus sat down to teach, the people were hanging on His every word because of the authority with which He preached everywhere He went.

Susie: However, Jesus’s home-town peeps were not prepared for what was about to come out of His mouth!

Luke 4:21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

Susan: This was clearly a declaration that He was the long-awaited Messiah of the Jews.

Susie: I’m pretty sure this was not the sermon they thought they were going to hear that morning!

Ways we can apply this to our lives:

·         Jesus was in the habit or custom of going to synagogue on the Sabbath. Do you believe we should see this as an example for us to follow regarding church attendance?

·         Rather than teach on the passage He had read, Jesus made a seemingly simple statement. What was it, and why would it create a stir? Have you trusted in the truth that Jesus was the Son of God and is able to do the six things stated in the Isaiah passage that He read?

LISTEN TO JESUS: YOUR BOY'S ALIVE!

LISTEN TO JESUS

YOUR BOY’S ALIVE!

John 4:43-45 Now after two days he departed thence, and went into Galilee. For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet hath no honour in his own country. Then when he was come into Galilee, the Galilaeans received him, having seen all the things that he did at Jerusalem at the feast: for they also went unto the feast.

Reformation Study Bible:

4:44 no honor in his own hometown. “His own hometown” is probably Galilee rather than Judea (cf. v. 3). Galilee is considered to be the place of Jesus’ origin in this Gospel (1:46; 2:1; 7:42, 52). Though the Galileans “welcomed him” (v. 45), the text indicates that Jesus was displeased with their need to “see signs and wonders” in order to believe

Susan: Jesus had said that a prophet is of no consequential worth or value among his own people and family. 

Mark 6:4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.”

Susie: The little kid that ran around Joseph’s carpenter shop surely could not be an important prophet!

Susan: And certainly not the Messiah due their honor, respect, and worship. 

Susie: Belief in Him as prophet or Christ did not bring the crowds out to see Him. What they wanted to see miraculous signs. 

Susan: All they wanted from Him was a “magic show”. . .

Susie: . . . and the physical healing He might give. 

Susan: Their motives for coming out to hear him were not those of sincere worshippers but adrenaline junkies. 

Susie: They did not come out of belief to sit at His feet to seek truth but as skeptics who needed to see signs . . . 

Susan: . . . or to find reasons to refute His authenticity.

John 4:46-47 So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death.

Susan: Jesus returned to Cana where He manifested His first miraculous sign of turning water into wine at a wedding. 

Susie: An official in the service of King Herod Antipas traveled the sixteen miles from Capernaum to Cana to beg Jesus to heal his son who was near death at home.

John 4:48 Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.

Susie: Rather than praising the man’s faith, Jesus accuses the man of unbelief. 

Susan: He is exceedingly put out that people needed to see a “dog and pony show” in order to believe. It is almost as if Jesus is a puppet and they are wanting to pull the strings and see Him perform before they will believe. It shows the arrogance of the people coming and makes me wonder why they came in the first place. I suspect only out of curiosity.

Susie: Jesus’ response to the desperate father may seem harsh, but as we have seen before, Jesus knows the inmost thoughts of men. Also, the “you” in this case is plural so He was addressing not only the father . . .

Susan: . . . but the group of Galileans as a whole.

John 4:49 The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die.

Susie: The man does not argue or deny what Jesus has said about the lack of belief and demanding a sign but just pleads again for Jesus to come with him to Capernaum to heal his son. 

Susan: Jesus knows the hearts of men and sees the desperation and helplessness of the concerned father.

John 4:50 Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.

Susie: Jesus was not merely prophesying that the child would live. 

Susan: He was pronouncing life and healing over the child in that exact moment. In His compassionate mercy, He healed the man’s son.  In stark contrast to the arrogant, narcissistic crowd, the Lord Jesus displayed lovingkindness toward the father’s situation concerning his son. 

Susie: The man believed what Jesus said even though he had no proof that his son was healed. 

Susan: He accepted Jesus’ authoritative declaration as fact. 

Susie: He headed back home to Capernaum confident of his son’s recovery.

John 4:51-53 And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth. Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.

Susie: On his way back home to Capernaum, the father was met by some of his servants. 

Susan: This good news patrol tells the father his son is healed. 

Susie: He asked the servants when his son began to get well. When they answer him, he realizes . . .  

Susan: . . . that at the precise moment Jesus had pronounced him whole, he began to get better. 

Susie: If the man had harbored any doubt about Jesus before, this has removed it totally from his mind.

Susan: This miracle changes the dynamic of the entire household from unbelief to complete trust. 

Susie: I am sure the father explained to his wife, other family members, and his servants what had transpired in Cana. 

Susan: They all witnessed the rest of the story.

John 4:54 This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee.

Susie: John writes of eight “signs” Jesus performed demonstrating that He was the Son of God. Changing the water into wine was the first and healing the official’s son without even being present was the second. Keep watching for six more.

Ways we can apply this to our lives:

·     We have the benefit of reading the gospels and knowing all the miraculous things Jesus did when He walked among men. However, many times we still crave a “sign.” Note that Jesus rebuked this attitude.

·     Are you seeking the signs, miracles, and wonders and Jesus as a cosmic Santa Claus or are you seeking the Almighty, Holy Son of God? 

·     Is your belief in the Lord dependent upon His meeting some demand? Or have you placed your complete trust in God’s plan rather than your own?

LISTEN TO JESUS: FOLLOW ME TO FISH

LISTEN TO JESUS

FOLLOW ME TO FISH

Susie: In this passage, we see Jesus officially calling Peter, Andrew, James, and John. This is not His first encounter with Peter, Andrew, and John. If you go back to John chapter 1 beginning at verse 37, you will see that Andrew and probably John followed Jesus to where He was staying after hearing their mentor, John the Baptist, clearly proclaim Him to be the Son of God. (See the previous lesson titles “John the Baptist’s Disciples Follow Jesus Home.”

Matthew 4:18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

Mark 1:16 Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

Susan: It was not “coincidence” that Jesus chose to walk on the seashore that morning. Since He is fully human but still fully God, He knew where He would find the fishermen He wished to call as His disciples. Jesus did not relinquish His omniscience when He came to earth as the God-man.

Susie: Peter and Andrew who were brothers were in the fishing business together. In the passage in John’s gospel, after meeting Jesus, Andrew felt compelled to go tell his brother Peter about his marvelous encounter with the long-awaited Messiah. I remember when the Billy Graham crusade was coming to the area in California where I was raised, we had an “Andrew” night before the crusade began. The purpose of this night was to go out to our friends and invite them all to come to the crusade in the hope that we might have the opportunity to introduce them to our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Matthew 4:19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

Mark 1:17 And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.

Susie: Although Peter and Andrew had spent some time with Jesus earlier, they are now back to fishing. However, it is now time for Jesus to begin His public ministry. He is ready to call disciples to follow Him permanently and learn from Him daily. He issues the call, “Follow me,” to these men who had already formed the opinion that He could be the Messiah the nation of Israel was longing for.

Susan: Jesus tells them specifically that He will teach them to fish for “men” which is more correctly translated “people” to include women as well.

Susie: I cannot resist including a link to the song “I Catch ‘em, God Cleans ‘em” sung by the Gaither Vocal Band:

https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search;_ylt=AwrDQyk0Gz9dzg4AWhU0nIlQ;_ylu=X3oDMTBncGdyMzQ0BHNlYwNzZWFyY2gEdnRpZAM-;_ylc=X1MDMTM1MTE5NTcwMARfcgMyBGFjdG4DY2xrBGNzcmNwdmlkA0tPOXZJakV3TGpIMVppdmlYUUx0c1FCUk1qWXdOUUFBQUFBczM4TnIEZnIDeWhzLWF0dC1hdHRfMDAxBGZyMgNzYS1ncARncHJpZANnUlZxSll1a1FaR1dQM0R5dGlfOHdBBG5fcnNsdAM2MARuX3N1Z2cDMARvcmlnaW4DdmlkZW8uc2VhcmNoLnlhaG9vLmNvbQRwb3MDMARwcXN0cgMEcHFzdHJsAwRxc3RybAM2MwRxdWVyeQNJJTIwY2F0Y2glMjAnZW0lMkMlMjBHb2QlMjBjbGVhbnMlMjAnZW0lMjB2aWRlbyUyMHdpdGglMjBseXJpY3MEdF9zdG1wAzE1NjQ0MTY4NDE-?p=I+catch+%27em%2C+God+cleans+%27em+video+with+lyrics&ei=UTF-8&fr2=p%3As%2Cv%3Av%2Cm%3Asa&fr=yhs-att-att_001&hsimp=yhs-att_001&hspart=att#id=4&vid=c9cd5cb05d42cd38972248518252331f&action=view

Matthew 4:20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.

Mark 1:18 And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.

Susan: Peter and Andrew immediately left their livelihood as gifted fishermen. At Jesus’s command, they followed Him. They made the decision to accompany Him as devoted students, to learn all they could from Him.

Susie: They abandoned the life they had always lived to embark on the adventure of discipleship. Much later, Peter would “remind” Jesus of this:

Matthew 19:27 (The Berean Study Bible) Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?

Matthew 4:21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.

Mark 1:19 And when he had gone a little farther thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets.

Susie: Jesus, now followed by Peter and Andrew, continued walking along the shore until He came to the boat where James, John, and their father, Zebedee were mending nets. I have read commentary that Peter, Andrew, and Zebedee’s family may have been in the fishing business together. They were working in close proximity this day.

Susan: Jesus issued the same charge to James and John to become His mentees. This was not the first time they had seen Jesus, either, since John and probably James were among the disciples of John the Baptist.

Matthew 4:22 And they immediately left the ship and their father and followed him.

Mark 1:20 And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.

Susan: John and James immediately, without hesitation, left the boat and their daddy behind to fix the nets with the hired servants.

Susie: The fact that Zebedee was able to hire crewmen says that John and James left a thriving business to walk alongside Jesus. Do you think, at this point, they already believe Jesus to be the Son of God? Was it His magnetic personality that attracted them to Him in so few words?

Susan: I think there may have been a question mark in their minds about Jesus’s deity, but I believe the Holy Spirit compelled them to follow Jesus and investigate further and learn from Him as their Rabbi, their Teacher.

Ways we can apply this to our lives:

·     Peter, Andrew, James, and John did not hesitate to answer the call of Jesus. When the Holy Spirit prompts us to follow a specific path, we need to obey immediately and completely.

·     The four fishermen gave up everything to totally trust in Jesus. Are we willing to let go of everything (hold possessions, reputation, even people lightly) and place ourselves totally in God’s care?