Jesus speaks. Are we listening?

Jesus speaks in the synagogue in Nazareth, his hometown. On that occasion Jesus stood before the assembled worshippers, read the scripture from the prophet Isaiah then sat down when he had finished. The congregation was amazed and spoke well of him—at first! But the longer Jesus spoke the less favorable was the congregation’s reaction. Eventually the people in the synagogue who had gathered for worship were furious with Jesus and attempted to drive him out of town! What brought on this strange turn of events?

Jesus read: “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, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Jesus used these words to describe the work set before him. He went on to say that often we cannot hear truth from those closest to us. He even suggested that God ministered outside the traditional boundaries! That’s what infuriated the hometown synagogue! (Find the details in Luke 4:14-30.)

Where are we in this scripture? Continuing the ministry Jesus began, involved with the poor and those captivated by unwise choices, proclaiming God’s grace in word and deed? Or are we worshippers at first enamored with Jesus’ message, but later furious that he suggests God might be working outside the boundaries we have drawn? Where do you find yourself in this text?