We in America are awaiting the inauguration of our newly elected President and there are high expectations attached to his coming into office. I wonder if some Americans are putting the kind of hope in him that only the Messiah could truly fulfill?
Notice how pleased Jesus' neighbors were when they first heard him. That God would fulfill prophecy in their own time was something they longed for. But notice the racial divide that Jesus transcended. He implies that God's favors are for those who normally would not qualify in their estimation. A Gentile leper. A Gentile woman. As Luke has John preaching from Isaiah, "All humankind will see God's salvation." And this inclusivity enrages them. How did Jesus pass through their midst? When they looked him in the face, intent on seizing him, did they recognize a neighbor and a friend and think better of what they intended to do? I would like to think so--but who knows?
And when Jesus presents his agenda to us--will we run him out of town or will we receive the One whom so many down through the ages have rejected?
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I am sincerely hoping that we can use this.
Please be patient... I am just testing out my password so I can begin Blogging!
I have no idea what happened up above in the last Blogg by "DON." That was NOT Don it was ME! And I remembered my PASSWORD!
This scriptural account is a favorite of mine and one I have read over and over. I appreciated Tom's depiction of this portion of scripture today in the Sunday Sermon and believe even perhaps a stronger case can be made for the 'astonishment' of the onlookers that day in the synagogue.
The swift transition from what appeared to be praise to disbelief seems strange. Therefore, some have translated this verse (vs.22) "spoken well of" to be (lit. bore witness) or 'bore witness against' and the word 'wondered' as annoyance rather then acceptance. And that perhaps 'gracious words' are words speaking of God's grace.
Whatever the case may be, Jesus bore rejection and hostility from religious leaders that day foreword until he submitted to the cross.
Oh, and I LOVE that in Jewish custom one stands to read and sits to teach (as again Tom mentioned in the sermon today). As he shared this and then we sang, "Worthy is the Lamb" and came to the verse "...SEATED on the throne...." I clearly saw this as the dispensation we are currently living in as the time Jesus is SEATED at the Right Hand of the Father TEACHING & INSTRUCTING HIS CHURCH and when he does STAND... this dispensation will end and He will RETURN to claim His Bride.
Yes! That notion of Jesus seated on the throne and teaching his church is striking and very encouraging.
Thanks for that thought.
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