When Jesus returns to His hometown of Nazareth and begins teaching and expounding on the Scriptures His neighbors become offended. Mark 6:1-4 lays out the story and tells us why. Seems these people who had lived right alongside Jesus for years just couldn’t get over the fact that He was a carpenter, a respectable trade but hardly one that would qualify Him to speak on such lofty matters as holy writ. And didn’t His brothers and sisters live in town too? And weren’t they just ordinary folks like the rest of them?  This mindset hindered them from receiving anything from Jesus to which Jesus said, “A prophet is not without honor, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.”

The same thing can be said of us. Though we may not be prophets it is often hard for our unsaved family and friends to accept our words when we try to witness to them. They know us and have put us in a box: sister, brother, mother, father, cousin, sidekick, etc. and it’s hard for them to see us any other way, and certainly not as a minister of the gospel. When that happens, the best witness will be how we live our lives rather than what we say.

If we live what we believe, in time those closest to us will see the change and will want to know what happened. How is it that we can be so calm during a problem when once we were the first to panic? Or how is it that we can answer a curt word with a sweet reply? Or not lose our temper or be so patient? In a world where hype in advertisement is everywhere, where exaggerated claims are made every day, it will be noteworthy to those around us to see something genuine as we, empowered by the Holy Spirit, quietly walk out our faith in meekness, love and patience, all the while praying for, rather than preaching to, our family and friends.

Sometimes we need to share God’s Word with others and sometimes we just need to live it.

Until next time,

Sylvia

As we continue to follow the footsteps of Jesus we next see Him teaching in the synagogues of Galilee. Luke 4:16 (Amplified) tells us that he “came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up.” And on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and read from the scroll of Isaiah 60:1-2a saying, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the good news to the poor; He has sent Me to announce release to the captives and recovery of sight of the blind, to send forth as delivered those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord (the day when salvation and the free favors of God profusely abound).” Then He rolled up the scroll and announced, “Today is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.”

What was He saying? Well, Isaiah 60:1-2 outlines the characteristics and office of the Messiah, and by saying it was fulfilled meant He was declaring Himself as Messiah. It’s interesting that He stopped short and didn’t finish reading Isaiah 60:2b where it talks about the “day of vengeance of our God.” That day is to come in the future, during the tribulation when God will pour out His wrath on unrepentant mankind, but right there in Nazareth, Jesus was telling the people their deliverance, their healing, their salvation had come. What a testimony and promise! 

But what was the reaction of the people? Luke 4:28 tells us that the people were “filled with rage.” Not only that but they even tried to kill Jesus by dragging Him out of town so they could throw Him off a cliff.

It’s amazing how this liberating gospel message often generates the same response today. Instead of rejoicing over our wonderful Savior and accepting what He has done, people often get angry, hostile, and downright confrontational. That’s when God’s love just amazes me, because He really cares about people, even those who are so hostile to Him. But for those who listen and believe, Jesus’ message is still powerful, still liberating, still healing. And Jesus still wants to free the captives, all those bound in sin and addictions, all those who are oppressed and depressed.

Surely it’s an offer we can’t refuse.

Until next time,

Sylvia