Luke 4: 22 – 32 No Prophet is Accepted in His Own Land

Luke 4: 22 – 32 No Prophet is Accepted in His Own Land

And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They also asked, "Isn't this the son of Joseph?" He said to them, "Surely you will quote me this proverb, 'Physician, cure yourself,' and say, 'Do here in your native place the things that we heard were done in Capernaum.'" And he said, "Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place. Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land. It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon. Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian." When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury. They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. But he passed through the midst of them and went away.

After Jesus made his “maiden speech” in the synagogue in his home town, people who witnessed it were amazed. But at the same time a few that were present had doubts saying, “Is this not the son of Joseph?" In other words, how could the seemingly so ordinary "guy next door" be the extra-ordinary person now speaking? They were judging in human terms, instead on in ”all things are possible with God” terms. How would I have reacted? Would I have been able to make the transition from seeing Jesus as neighbor to seeing him as Messiah? I am always a cautious sort of person. Unfortunately I think it would have taken me some time to come around, but I hope I would have eventually. These people - Jesus' friends and neighbors have it the toughest. They alone have to get over the before and after hump. Others meeting Jesus for the first time don’t have this to get over. Perhaps the best thing to do is what Jesus himself suggested – judge him and all others by the fruit they bear. Are they life giving fruit bearers? I am reminded about the “fruits of the spirit” passage in Galations 5:22. The fruits of the Spirit are Love, Joy, Peace, Patient Endurance, Faith, Kindness, Generosity and Self Control. Are these characteristics that he showed? Are these what we show? If so, then he and we “are of God”.