NOTE: Tomorrow is the last day of this series on Luke available on Biblestudytools.com. To get the rest of the series, get a set of Explore devotional, either as an app or as a paper copy, here—details of a great deal below this study.
Jesus is the Spirit-filled, perfect man, God’s promised King, the divine Son. Now His ministry begins—and it’s going to be a rollercoaster ride!
A sign…
ReadLuke 4:14
• What reputation does Jesus quickly build up (v 14-15)?
• What kind of person had God promised seven centuries before, through the prophet Isaiah (v 17-19)?
• How does Luke raise the tension (v 20)?
• What is astonishing about what Jesus says next (v 21)?
Jesus is basically pointing at the Scriptures, and then at Himself, and then at those listening, and saying: “God’s promise. It’s all about me. What do you make of that?”
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APPLY
If we’ve been Christians for a while, it’s easy for familiarity with Jesus’ claims to breed indifference to them.
Put yourself in that synagogue in your mind’s eye. Imagine this is the first time you’ve heard who Jesus is. Feel the excitement of looking at the One who is the fulfillment of all God’s plans and promises.
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…that will be spoken against
Read Luke 4:22Luke 4:22
“Amazed” in the Gospels (v 22) doesn’t necessarily mean “wowed”: often, it means “quite confused”. And the inhabitants of Nazareth have a problem with Jesus’ claim to be God’s prophet who brings good news.
• What is their problem (v 22)?
• What point is Jesus making in v 23-27?
• How do Jesus’ childhood neighbours end up treating Him (v 28-30)?
Nazareth’s rejection is just like the way the whole of Israel has responded throughout their history when God has been doing something special. And, as we progress through Luke, it’s just like how most of Israel will respond to Jesus. But
the problem is not with Christ—it’s with those who can only see the everyday (“Joseph’s son”), and so miss the mindblowing
truth that God’s Son has just arrived.
The words of Simeon about the infant child of Mary are beginning to come true: He is “a sign that will be spoken against” (2 v 34).
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PRAY THRU
Look again at Isaiah’s description of the Lord Jesus (v 18-19).
Take each phrase in turn and thank Christ for being that person.
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NOTE: Tomorrow is the last day of this series on Luke available on Biblestudytools.com. To get the rest of the series, get a set of Explore devotional, either as an app or as a paper copy, here—details of a great deal below.
This devotional is taken from Explore—a daily Bible-reading devotional from the good book company which enables you to engage with Scripture and which will encourage, equip and inspire you to live for Christ. Explore features contributions from pastors such as Dr Timothy Keller, Mike McKinley and Tim Chester.
Click here and enter the code bstexplore57 when you check out to get the current quarter’s Explore for $5.84, a 10% discount.
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