Jesus announces himself

With the crowds following him increasing and his miracles more frequent, inquiring minds would want to know who Jesus is. He dispels all rumors when he declares himself to be the long-awaited Messiah.

At the synagogue in Nazareth

Luke 4:16-31

• Jesus had grown up in Nazareth. His custom was to be in the synagogue on the sabbath day. Now that he is older, he continues that habit (v. 16).
• He could read. He could read publicly. (v. 16).
• In the synagogue a priest would read first, followed by a Levite reading. Jesus was neither of these. Do you wonder what was read before this?
• Is it coincidental or providential that the scroll containing Isaiah 61:3 was brought to Jesus (v. 17)?
• After standing to read, Jesus sat to explain (v. 20).
• Plainly Jesus declared that he was the fulfillment of the prophet’s words. The people marveled how a carpenter’s son would say such things (v. 22).
• References to Elijah’s widow (1 Kings 17:9) and Elisha’s leper (2 Kings 5:14) must mean that God saves whom He will, when and where He will and how He will. This shocked and angered the religious bigots who thought that men are saved by following the right traditions (v. 28).
• When the Jews unsuccessfully attempted to kill him, Jesus left town (v. 29, 31).

In the northern territories

Matthew 4:13-16

• Jesus moved. The attempt on his life warranted it.
• But  who would think that this, too, led to a fulfillment of prophecy (Isaiah 9:1,2; Mt 4:14)?
• The gospel was being preached by the Jewish Messiah in a Gentile land (v. 15).
• Truly his announcement in the synagogue of Nazareth was accurate.

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