Today This Scripture Has Been Fulfilled [Luke 4]
14And Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about Him spread through all the surrounding district. 15And He began teaching in their synagogues and was praised by all. 16And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read. 17And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written, 18"THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED, 19TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD."
20And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." 22And all were speaking well of Him, and wondering at the gracious words which were falling from His lips; and they were saying, "Is this not Joseph's son?"
As Jesus read these words from the prophet Isaiah in his home town, "they were amazed by the gracious words that came from His mouth." They were caught up in the wonder that Jesus was by the Spirit of the Lord making the blind see, setting free those oppressed by unclean spirits, setting free those who were captive of lies and that this was indeed "the year of the Lord's favor." (Holman,CSB). The poor were being sought out to hear the good news. Was this the Messiah? Yet, something kept them from believing. We know this kid. Isn't this the boy we have watched grow up in Joseph's shop? The Messiah can't be a normal guy. He can't be one of us. He has to be, you know, heavenly. They didn't know what to do with these opposing thoughts running around in their minds. Since it didn't look the way they thought it should, they ignored the wonder of what the Lord's Spirit was doing in Jesus.
Lord, I know I have been in this same dilemma. I have seen Your Spirit at work setting captives free and doing a healing work in my life and in others. Yet it didn't look quite right to me and so I walked away mulling over my doubt instead of rejoicing that I had seen You at work. Grow me today in recognizing when You have fulfilled Your word and cause me to worship You instead of doubting.
Verna McCrillis, 2/24/2009