“Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news of him spread throughout the whole region. He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all. He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the
In this Gospel reading, Luke demonstrated the authenticity and legitimacy of Jesus and his mission. Luke wanted his readers to accept Jesus as the Son of God because of what Jesus proclaimed in the synagogue and how he lived out that mission.
The good news announced in the synagogue was becoming a reality as Jesus spoke it. Jesus was teaching the people that the kingdom of God was already present. This message is as important for us today as it was for those who heard Jesus in the synagogue.
We see in all the Gospels that Jesus was a charismatic and powerful speaker. Jesus commanded people’s attention and impressed them with his eloquence. These gifts, Luke wants us to understand, are evidence of the presence and the power of the Spirit within Jesus.
If you had been in the synagogue that day, would you have been convinced by the message, the messenger, or both? Many may claim to be moved by the Spirit, but their actions are at odds with what they preach. With Jesus, we see an essential unity between what he said and what he did.
How can you be more open to God’s call in your life and the world around you?
Adapted from Word on the Go, a downloadable resource from RENEW International.