Context
For more context on this passage, please see the previous study on Luke 4:1-13, “Divine Paternity Tests (The Temptations of Jesus)”
Crossword Puzzle (✞-word)
Crossword Puzzle Answers
- Tempted Jesus returns from Galilee (Lk 4:14-15) after being ___ by the devil, who tested His relationship with the Father (Lk 4:1-13).
- Nazareth Jesus goes back to preach in His hometown: ____ (Lk 4:16; cf. Mt 2:23).
- Baptism Christ, which means “Anointed One”, was anointed by the Holy Spirit (Lk 4:18; cf. Is 61:1) after His ___ (Lk 3:21-23), and then began His public ministry.
- Evangelize Jesus came to ____ or proclaim good news to the poor (i.e., the humbled) (Lk 4:18; cf. Num 12:3; Is 61:1).
- Freedom The Lord of Liberty came to proclaim spiritual ___ for the captives and the oppressed (Lk 4:18; cf. Is 58:6; Is 61:1; Lk 13:10-16; Jn 8:31-32; Eph 6:12).
- Forgiveness Christ came to proclaim spiritual debt ____ (Lk 4:18; cf. Is 61:1; Mt 6:12; Lk 1:76-77).
- Sight Christ came to give true (in)____ to the blind (Lk 4:18; cf. Is 29:18, 35:5-6, 61:1; Mt 15:14; Lk 6:39-40).
- Jubilee Metaphorically, Christ blasts the ram’s horn and rings the Liberty Bell, announcing the new age of salvation – the Year of the Lord’s Favor, the Year of ___ (Lk 4:19; cf. Lev 25:8-10, 39-42, 54-55, Is 61:2).
- Well After Jesus says that He has fulfilled the prophetic passages from Isaiah (Lk 4:18-21), everyone speaks ___ of Him – at first (Lk 4:22).
- Treatment It seems that His homies want some preferential ____ from the Great Physician (Lk 4:23).
- Accepted Jesus says that no prophet is ____ or favored in their hometown (Lk 4:24; cf. Mt 13:57; Mk 6:4; Lk 6:22-23, 11:47-51, 13:33-34, 20:9-19; Jn 1:10-12; Jn 4:44; Ac 7:52).
- Sidon Jesus points out that, through Elijah, the LORD provided abundant food for a widow in Zarephath in ___, while there was a great famine in Israel (Lk 4:25-26; cf. 1 Ki 17:7-16).
- Syrian Jesus points out that, though there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha, only Naaman the ___ was healed (Lk 4:27; cf. 2 Kings 5).
- Reject The proverb is proved true (Lk 4:24): His homies don’t accept Christ; they ___ Christ (Lk 4:28-30) – as many do today.
Conclusion
The Savior comes on the scene and announces Himself as the New Main Character in the New Season of salvation.
Even though it causes tension with the old cast, Christ comes to evangelize – to spread the Good News of the Gospel.
He pronounces an Emancipation Proclamation of true spiritual freedom. He rings the Liberty Bell proclaiming a new Year of Jubilee and spiritual debt forgiveness.
But though He can give spiritual insight to the blind, the people don’t see it. He proclaims the Lord’s favor, but He isn’t received favorably.
You would think the Holy homecoming of the Holy One would be a home run, but He has to run from home.
More than a son of Joseph (Lk 4:22), Jesus is the Son of God (Lk 1:32, 35, 3:22). And Jesus is the Savior of the world, not just the Jews.1
Salvation is not based on your family, ethnicity, or geography – it’s about one’s response to Christ’s amazing, gracious words. You can either receive them or reject them.
So what’s it gonna be? Reception or rejection? Those who receive Christ will be received by the Father, and those who reject Christ will be rejected by the Father (Lk 10:16).
And those of us who have received Christ’s words now need to relay Christ’s words – even if it means rejection from our relatives, and hatred from our homies.
But if we are rejected by our own, we can take heart – because we’re in good company!
For that’s how they treated the prophets – and that’s how they treated the One about whom they prophesied.
So, in life, let’s not try to get rid of the Lion King (Gen 49:9; Rev 5:5). Let’s be loyal to the Lord of Liberty, and let true freedom ring!
Bibliography
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