(07-10-28) The Word that Heals - Luke 4.16-30
Romans 15:1-6
We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2Each of us should please his neighbour for his good, to build him up. 3For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me. 4For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
5May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, 6so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Luke 4:16-30
He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. 17The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
18“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour.”
20Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, 21and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” 22All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn't this Joseph's son?” they asked. 23Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself! Do here in your home town what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.’ 24I tell you the truth, he continued, no prophet is accepted in his home town. 25I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah's time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. 26Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. 27And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed – only Naaman the Syrian.”
28All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. 29They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff. 30But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.
· What does Jesus quoting Isaiah 61 mean for us?
o specifically in the context of healing
Three points to get us there
· This is for here and now
o yesterday, today and forever
o the Kingdom and the Cross
· This is for you, me and everyone
o God’s grace is not distributed according to worthiness
§ or rather, God’s grace is distributed according to worthiness
§ His, not ours
§ ours, through Him!
· This is God’s will
o hope, healing and salvation for His people
§ Romans 15:4
§ equipped to understand
· Some kind of response is required
o the people in the synagogue clearly had the wrong reaction!
· The response is trust, faith, belief (in Jesus!)
o how is this manifested?
o it can be through action…
§ phone story
· So what does it mean?
o Jesus is ready, willing and able!
o we should trust Him