57. “It Is Written”

Leviticus 25:8-13, Isaiah 61:1-3 & Luke 4:16-30

Key Verse: He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Luke 4:21

This story begins by saying that Jesus “found the place where it is written.” (Luke 4:17B) Actually, in the Synagogue, the readings were assigned, similar to the many churches that preach from the lectionary on Sundays today.  There is a set, systematic order for reading Scripture so that every significant passage is addressed over a certain period of time.  Therefore, we would probably understand this passage better if it were to say, “Jesus found His place, and it just so happened that He read where it is written…Isaiah 61:1-3.”

Jesus was standing to read out of respect, but also for practical reasons.  Remember, He was reading from a scroll, not a book.  It had to be unrolled and rolled.  Holding it in the lap would be very difficult.  He wouldn’t be able to just turn the page.  It was typically unrolled across a desk like structure. 

Having read the assigned passage and then having handed the scroll over to the appropriate person, Jesus sat down.  This would be another sign to the worshipers that He was about to speak and teach on this passage, or explain it to the best of his ability. 

What He was about to say was the last thing that they were expecting to hear.  They had grown up with Him.  Many had probably attended school with Him when He was young.  His Father had probably repaired many of their yokes for oxen or made some of their meager furnishings.  Jesus was known as a carpenter Himself, meaning that He had been very involved with His earthly father, Joseph’s, business.  They knew Him as a worker, not a Savior.  Yet, He chose to come home, to tell them first, who He really was. 

“Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”  If He had hoped for support, there was none to come.  Instead, He was accused of blasphemy.  The people would not want to be accused of harboring a blasphemer in their midst by the leaders of the Jews, even if He was family.  The law had been very clear on this point.  A blasphemer must be killed no matter who He was!  Then when Jesus gives two examples of why God went to the Gentiles to show His grace, (1 Kings 17:7-24 & 2Kings 5:1-14), because of the hard heartedness of the Jews, His argument didn’t help to endear Him to His people, even if it was truth. 

It is important to note that Jesus stops reading at the words, “”to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,” which the Jews would recognize as the Year of Jubilee, ordained by the Lord to prevent oppression by the rich and proclaim freedom for the poor.  (Leviticus 25:8-13) The Jews had ignored this command by God in the past.  Jesus had come to set all things right. 

Oh, how Jesus had probably hoped that His words would be encouraging to His people.  Surely there were people in His home town who were blind and lame and grieving.  He wanted to help them first.  They, however, would have none of it.  There were rules you know.  How sad that what they thought they knew became the obstacle to the Grace and love that Jesus wanted to share with them first.  Even at the beginning, when He offered love, the people’s response was to try to kill Him, but His time had not yet come, so He slipped away. 

Sometimes we do this as well.  When we think that God is asking the impossible of us, or we just don’t see how it could possibly be done, and instead of trusting and stepping out in faith, we say “no,” because it doesn’t make sense, our familiar can become our obstacle as well.  The adventure comes when we say, “yes,” anyway, even to the unknown future, trusting in God's leading. 

Hymn: “O Word of God Incarnate”