Luke 4:16-30
Thank you for continuing this journey of The Gospel Project® for Kids. Sunday’s
Bible account takes us to Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth. Jesus was about thirty
years old when He began His ministry. After Jesus’ baptism and temptation, He
traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover. Then, He headed north to Galilee
through the region of Samaria, stopping at Jacob’s well to talk to a Samaritan
woman.
Jesus began teaching in the synagogues. On this Sabbath day, Jesus
went into the synagogue in Nazareth, the town where He grew up. He read aloud
the words of the prophet Isaiah. (See Isaiah 61:1-2) Then Jesus sat down.
Everyone’s eyes were on Him as He explained, “Today as you listen, this
Scripture has been fulfilled.” What was Jesus saying? Jesus was saying, “It’s
Me”. The words Jesus read were coming true. Some of the people might have
remembered Jesus from His youth. They asked, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”
Jesus knew their thoughts; He had performed miracles in Capernaum,
and these people wanted Jesus to do miracles in His hometown too. Jesus
reminded them of two Old Testament accounts: many widows lived in Israel when
the prophet Elijah was there, but God sent Elijah to help a widow in another
country. And Elisha likely encountered Israelites who had leprosy, but he
healed Naaman the Syrian. Jesus wanted the people to understand that His
miracles were an act of grace—a gift. No one deserves God’s grace, so God may
show grace to whomever He pleases. The people were angry. They drove Jesus
away, intending to kill Him, but Jesus escaped through the crowd.
Hundreds of years before Jesus was born, the prophet Isaiah wrote
about God’s plan to send a Messiah. He would bring good news and redeem people
who were broken and hurting. Jesus read Isaiah’s words and told everyone who
was listening that He, Jesus, is the promised Messiah.
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