Luke 4:14-21 (NRSV)
Read Luke 4:14-21 on biblegateway.com
Verse 14Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. Verse 15He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. Verse 16When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, Verse 17and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: Verse 18"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, Verse 19to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." Verse 20And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Verse 21Then he began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."
Devotion
Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit … unrolls the scroll of the prophet Isaiah … reads the good news … and announces, “Today the scripture has been fulfilled”! Those poor people of Nazareth. They just couldn’t take the shock of those words and the ones that would follow. Inhibited by fear, guilt, things they were sure of, and by those that were doubting, they rejected the Spirit, the embodiment of the good news, and the fulfilled scripture. They might not have been the first, and they definitely weren’t the last. Jesus still came to them, Jesus still comes today.
Prayer
Good Spirit, break through our resistance with your liberating message. Help us to rejoice, receive, and not reject your promises. Amen.