“Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Luke 4:21 NIV
For today’s devotional, I took a chance by simply opening the Bible and noticing the first passage that came to me. Call it blind luck or divine direction, as a really good one popped up from Luke 4:14-21!
Jesus had been through the forty days of testing in the wilderness by the temptations of the devil, which had followed his baptism by John in the River Jordon. After thoroughly rebuking satan, he returned to Nazareth and entered the synagogue. (By the way, in proper English both the devil and satan are supposed to be capitalized; in my usage of the terms for our adversary, I do not as he doesn’t merit even this simple distinction.)
An attendant handed him the scroll of Isaiah and Jesus read aloud from it, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
He rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant. His next words must have been mind-blowing to everyone in attendance: “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” I can visualize the ripple effect His comment caused through the synagogue. You cannot imagine how bold it was. Only five hundred years ago people were burned at the stake for simply doubting the pope. Go back two thousand years and imagine the impact of someone claiming such a God-connection. It was considered blasphemy of the highest order.
How did the people respond? They argued with Him and became furious. They drove Him out of town and took Him to a cliff to throw Him off of it. In short, at the start of Jesus’s ministry, people immediately wanted to kill Him. By His divine power, He walked through the crowd to safety.
I’m sure you’ve read this passage many times. Has it really registered with you how significant it is? Jesus fulfilled Biblical prophecy cited by Isaiah, confirmed that He is the Messiah, and showed His power. It’s truly incredible.
Prayer: Thank you, God, for ministering to us through Jesus. Amen.