Mar
16
2020
By Anonymous (not verified)
"It was to none of these that Elijah was sent ... ." - Lk 4:26
Up to now, the Jews assembled in the synagogue have been absorbed by the gracious speech of Jesus. News of Him had spread throughout the region, and He was praised by all (see Lk 4:14-15). And now, Jesus has announced that He is the Messiah! How special they must be! They are the ones honored and blessed to hear and see the Messiah. Blessed of all nations, of all generations!
What goes wrong? The first issue was when Jesus stopped reading in the middle of Isaiah 61:2, just before, "And a day of vindication by our God." The Jewish people hate their oppressors. They are as eager for a Messiah to vanquish their Gentile enemies as they are for Him to establish salvation for Israel. Next comes a slam against the Jews themselves. In essence, He tells them that they may be the Chosen People; they may be from Nazareth; they may come to the synagogue regularly - but they're just like their ancestors, hard-hearted and filled with pride. God will sooner save a destitute Gentile widow or a leper from Syria before He'll save them (see Lk 25-27).
When the people in the synagogue hear this, they are all filled with fury (Lk 4:28). They would rather kill Him - the Messiah they had waited for - than consider they are worse than the people they despise.
Prayer: Lord, fill me with the humility to examine my conscience and welcome Your healing mercy.
See all meditations to date
Up to now, the Jews assembled in the synagogue have been absorbed by the gracious speech of Jesus. News of Him had spread throughout the region, and He was praised by all (see Lk 4:14-15). And now, Jesus has announced that He is the Messiah! How special they must be! They are the ones honored and blessed to hear and see the Messiah. Blessed of all nations, of all generations!
What goes wrong? The first issue was when Jesus stopped reading in the middle of Isaiah 61:2, just before, "And a day of vindication by our God." The Jewish people hate their oppressors. They are as eager for a Messiah to vanquish their Gentile enemies as they are for Him to establish salvation for Israel. Next comes a slam against the Jews themselves. In essence, He tells them that they may be the Chosen People; they may be from Nazareth; they may come to the synagogue regularly - but they're just like their ancestors, hard-hearted and filled with pride. God will sooner save a destitute Gentile widow or a leper from Syria before He'll save them (see Lk 25-27).
When the people in the synagogue hear this, they are all filled with fury (Lk 4:28). They would rather kill Him - the Messiah they had waited for - than consider they are worse than the people they despise.
Prayer: Lord, fill me with the humility to examine my conscience and welcome Your healing mercy.
See all meditations to date
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