Categories

, , ,

Has Familiarity Dismissed the One Who Brought Good News?

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 

Luke 4:18-19 (ESV)

Shepherds watching over their sheep. Angels glorifying God. The baby in the manger. The wise men and their gifts. The Christmas story. Or is it? Has our familiarity with Christmas dismissed the True One Who brought Good News?

Have we forgotten the promises of the Good News? Liberty to the captives. Sight to the blind. Freedom to the oppressed. The year of the Lord’s favor.

One Sabbath, Jesus entered the synagogue in His hometown, Nazareth. He read from the scroll of Isaiah (Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:18-19 ).

He sat down and said, “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!” Luke 4:21b (NLT)

The people knew that this Scripture was a prophecy of the coming Messiah who would set up His kingdom.

“Does He really mean that He is the Anointed One? That the Holy Spirit is upon Him? Is this THE PROPHET?”

“How can this be? Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” Luke 4:22b (NLT)

No Prophet Accepted in His Hometown

Jesus said, “But I tell you the truth, no prophet is accepted in His own hometown,” Luke 4:24 (NLT).

Familiarity with the hometown Jesus dismissed Him as the One Who brought the Good News of liberty and the year of the Lord’s favor.

Jesus reminded them that Elijah was sent to a foreign woman, the widow of Zarephath, during a three-and-a-half-year drought, 1 Kings 17:9. 

He reminded them that Elisha healed a Syrian leper, Naaman, although there were many lepers in Israel, 2 Kings 5:1.

When the people heard this, they jumped up and mobbed Jesus, but He passed through the crowd and went to Capernaum to teach.

Familiarity Dismissed the Good News

They missed His message—the Good News—the eye-opening liberty and favor of Jesus’ coming. Jesus brought forgiveness of sins, eternity with the Loving Father, the Creator of the Universe. Jesus offers salvation. But His hometown dismissed His Good News.

Because of our familiarity with the Good News of Christmas, have we dismissed the true meaning of our celebrations?

O LORD, we don’t want to misunderstand You. We want to understand the Good News of Your coming. In the Good News is life and liberty. We want to see and comprehend Your liberty. You have freed Your followers from our slavery to sin and have given us eternal life with You if we accept Your gift. Your favor is upon us. We praise Your name. Amen.

Reflections

  1. Read Luke 4:16-30. What does the Scripture say about Jesus? About the people? Can you identify with the people?
  2. Read Isaiah 61:1-2. Jesus doesn’t quote the last part of verse 2. Do you know why? Read the rest of the chapter. Remember, the Scriptures speak of the day that they were written in and the future.
  3. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you if you have missed the full meaning of the Good News.

How are you celebrating the promises of the Good News this Christmas?

Free Devotional

Behold Our Savior … 31 Reflections

Featured Photo: James Tissot (French, 1836-1902). Jesus Unrolls the Book in the Synagogue, Brooklyn Museum, https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/4471

One response to “Has Familiarity Dismissed the One Who Brought Good News?”

Please Share Your Ideas

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

←
→
Father, You are love, and You have given us so many gifts, but the greatest of these is Your love. Your love is patient and kind. May we reflect Your patience and kindness. Your love isn't focused on Yourself but on others. May we abandon our self-centered focus and rejoice with Your truth. Jesus, You bore all things. You bore our sins on the cross so that we could live with You forever. Holy Spirit, empower us to bear all things, for we believe that You are transforming us. We hope in our God Almighty, and that enables us to endure all things. Your love never ends. Thank You, Father. Amen. Father, we rejoice in where You have placed us this day. Help us to see You in all that we do and in all that we encounter. We know that You have us in Your hand, and You are working Your perfect will in us. May we bless You and all those we see today. Thank You that Yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory. Forever. In Jesus' name, amen. Are you anxious? Troubled? Fearful? Want peace even in the midst of the storms in your life? Call out to God. He is near, and He loves you. “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.” (Matthew 6:28-29) Our spiritual worship starts with surrender to God. If God is for you, who can be against you? Who will charge you? Who condemns you? Who will separate you from Christ's love? God loved you so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, into the world to pay the price for your sins, so that you could live forever basking in His love. “O LORD, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; May you bask in God's blessings and rest in His peace.

%d bloggers like this: