Hello everyone. I will continue to look at Jesus visit to his hometown as recorded in Luke 4. In the previous post we saw how Jesus quoted from Isaiah 61, and how he edited the passage to talk about the year of the Lord's favor, but stopped before declaring the day of God's vengeance. Jesus' message was a message of mercy, rather than a message of punishment. Today, we will look that the response of his audience.
In verse 22 it indicates that they were initially amazed by his words. Ἐθαύμαζον (ethaumazov) means ‘they marveled.’ Jesus had amazed them, but this story goes south in a hurry. Then they ask, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” What was the purpose of this question? They had just marveled at the graciousness of his words. Are they proud of their hometown boy? Or are they wondering out loud how someone of such simple origins could make such bold claims? (Claiming to be the fulfillment of Isaiah 61.)
It also appears that the crowd was looking for some kind of sign that what Jesus was saying was true, that he was indeed ushering some new age. He might be addressing this thought when he says, “Undoubtedly, you will quote this proverb to me, ‘Doctor, heal yourself.’ We have heard about what you have done in Capernaum. Do it here, in your hometown too.” (verse23, my own translation.) Jesus has apparently already performed some miracles in Capernaum and his hometown crowd wants to see some signs too. His work in Capernaum has not gone unnoticed by his hometown crowd. Is there a bit of jealousy present that Capernaum has been allowed to see things from Jesus that they have not?
Ultimately, Capernaum, not Nazareth, becomes the center of Jesus’ early ministry. The lack of faith exhibited in Nazareth makes it the wrong place for Jesus to have his ministry. Jesus remarks that no prophet is accepted in his hometown. The Old Testament shows this to be true. The prophets of old and their messages were similarly rejected.
Jesus is establishing himself as a prophet here in his hometown and in his rebuke he now makes reference to two Old Testament prophets, Elijah and Elisha. He makes some comparisons that the people of Nazareth do not like. Jesus seems to go out of the way here to mention stories of Gentiles who reap the benefit of God’s mmiracles, when the Jews did not. He uses two of the great Old Testament prophets to share these stories.
First Elijah and widow from Zarephath. Jesus points out that there were a lot of widows in Israel, but God sends Elijah to this Gentile widow and she receives the help and blessing of the Lord when the Israelite widows do not. 1 Kings 17. Then, in 2 Kings 5, Naaman the Syrian is healed of leprosy by Elisha. Jesus points out that there were Israelites with leprosy, but only Naaman was healed. Naaman was not only a Gentile, but a leper, making him doubly unclean to a healthy Israelite. And the absence of God working in Israel is emphasized.
This stokes the crowd into flames. They become so angry, it's like their heads explode. They want to kill Jesus now, and make an attempt to do so. I have thoughts about this episode, and their anger. Why so angry? First, did Jesus say anything that was incorrect? No, he did not. Second, did Jesus say anything that isn’t obvious from a thorough reading of the Scriptures? No, he did not.
So what Jesus said was true, and obvious from the Scriptures, why were they so angry? Perhaps, because they knew what they believed and were not interested in some uncomfortable truth. If Kenneth Bailey is correct about their Jewish nationalism, then these truths went against everything they believed, and their whole Jewish nationalististic mindset. (Bailey, 152.) According to Darell Bock, Jesus’ implication was clear enough to the crowd. Outsiders (Gentiles, lepers) might end up being blessed, while insiders are left out. (Bock, 419).
The crowd is riled up and makes an attempt to take Jesus to the edge of a cliff and throw him off. In the end Jesus walks through the crowd unharmed. It is not clear whether this was a miraculous escape or not. Either way, Jesus leaves Nazareth and goes on his way then to Capernaum. Bock points out that the people are unable to bring death to Jesus. That he does willingly, choosing to offer himself up on our behalf. (Bock, 420)
We are given a choice here. The Spirit of the Lord is upon him, will we accept Jesus' offer? Will we receive the good news? Will we allow Jesus to set us free? Restore our sight? Will we accept the year of the Lord’s favor? Or will we reject him? Jesus was either who he said he was, the fulfillment of Isa. 61, the Anointed One, or he was an imposter. The crowd in his hometown did not like his message, so they chose to regard him as an imposter.
Darrell Bock, Luke, Volume 1 - 1:1-9:50, Grand Rapids, Michigan, Baker Academic, 1994.
Kenneth Bailey, Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes, Downers Grove, Illinois, IVP, 2008.
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