The Way
Rejected in Nazareth
Those closest to him were the first to turn away
Story
On the Sabbath, Jesus came back to Nazareth, the town where he had grown up, and went into the synagogue as he always did. When he stood up to read, the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. He unrolled it and found a certain passage. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. He has sent me to bring good news to the poor and to proclaim freedom to the captives.
He rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down, and every eye in the synagogue was fixed on him. Then he began to speak. Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing. The people marveled at the gracious words coming from his mouth, and yet they murmured. Isn't this Joseph's son?
Jesus said, no prophet is welcome in his hometown. Elijah was sent to none of the many widows in Israel, but to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon, and in the time of Elisha, only Naaman the Syrian was made clean. The synagogue boiled with rage. They drove him out of the town and dragged him to the edge of the cliff on which the town was built, meaning to throw him down. But he passed right through the middle of them and went on his way.
Walk this scene on the map →His Words
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. He has sent me to bring good news to the poor, release to captives, and sight to the blind.
This scripture you have just heard with your own ears is fulfilled here today.
I tell you the truth: no prophet is welcomed in his own hometown.
The sayings are fresh renderings of the original meaning in today's language. Text: Lk 4:16–30
Background
Synagogue worship included readings from the Law and then the Prophets, and it was customary to sit down to teach after reading. That is why every eye was on Jesus when he returned the scroll and sat down.
Pause and Reflect
Is there a word from God I take lightly just because it sounds so familiar?