because he has anointed me

to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners

and recovery of sight for the blind,

to release the oppressed,

because he has anointed me

to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners

and recovery of sight for the blind,

to release the oppressed,

This narrative provides an interesting insight into synagogue worship in the time of Jesus. Reading it we can imagine what it would have been like to be able to go to Nazareth Synagogue when the guest speaker was Our Lord Himself!

After the time of praise and the Shema, the Law would have been read and translated into Aramaic and possibly commented on. The reader would take the scroll from the Tabernacle steward and stand to read a portion from The Prophets. The scroll would be returned, and the teacher would sit for the "talk". On this occasion it was the scroll of Isaiah - but unlike the text used by the Ethiopian - would be in Hebrew. (Luke renders the words in the Septuagint translation.)

For about a year now Jesus has been staying in Galilee so his return to the town in which he grew up and in which he is well known as the "carpenter's son" is greeted with considerable interest. We imagine that the synagogue would be crowded. What will he choose to read, and what will he say?

Jesus uses the Old Testament scriptures in two ways when he is in the synagogue "as was his custom". He reads from Isaiah the Prophet and he illustrates his "talk" with two stories from the ministries of Elijah and Elisha.

We shall look at the narrative in these ways :-

• How did Jesus use the Old Testament?
• How did the people respond?
• What can we learn from it?

Luke tells us that he went "on the Sabbath day into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read…. and sat down"

Although Jesus often criticised the attitudes and views of his day he nevertheless attended worship - and, on the Sabbath shared in the Jewish praise and teaching.

When he addressed the group at Nazareth he did as was expected - but his application of the word was uniquely challenging.

He would have read the word clearly and distinctly. He would have rendered the ancient Hebrew into the modern Aramaic of his time. The book of the Prophet was treated with respect.

Of course Jesus was a "revolutionary" - and he applied his divine message ruthlessly as well as graciously - but we cannot deduce from his example a view of scripture that is not both dynamic and reverent.

The kind of worship that characterised the early church was powered by the Holy Spirit and knew the gifts - but it was grounded in the traditions of synagogue.

His text is appropriate for our time at the end of the millennium - containing reference to the year of Jubilee. In fact Jesus cut the reading short at that very point, and did not go on to read about the "day of vengeance".

It goes without saying that He was familiar with the book of Isaiah (he quotes from it several times in his ministry - being especially fond of the passage about the people who don't listen) and he "found the place. . .". (There were no chapter or verse numbers.)

There can be no doubt what he meant. I am the one of whom Isaiah wrote. I am the anointed One - the Messiah.

We would have expected them to shout and applaud perhaps? Well they were impressed - but not in the way we would hope.

So when he dealt with their scepticism he went on to

Not only did Jesus explain Isaiah 61 - he also referred to the OT prophets Elijah and Elisha in a way that showed

he understood their message

he accepted their relevance

If ever we had doubts about the Old Testament we should remember this - He

used it to apply to the people who rejected Him.

When we see our Lord in the synagogue - in all the dignity of His teaching role, we long that we might have heard Him for ourselves - seen His smile or frown, heard His emphasis . . . Nevertheless we have the gospel record and it places the scripture in His Hands, His mouth, and in Himself - The Word made flesh.

I cannot believe that the synagogue was full that time. He was well known - but not as a teacher. Curiosity would bring them to sit and listen.

In many circles Jesus still commands expectation. There is a kind of respect that goes as far as curiosity - but cannot accept His teaching.

Would he perform a miracle?

Would he berate the Pharisees?

What would be His message to them?

We too approach Him with curiosity - but without the willingness to apply His words.

Oh if only it had stopped there - but it didn't. They knew him didn't they?

So admiration at his tone led to questions about who he was . . .

Their rejection was rooted in preconceived ideas about who Jesus is.

And, as he went on to speak of Elijah and Elisha - they felt he was getting at them.

He was. For what marked the widow and Naaman was their foreignness and yet their privileged position.

Jesus might say in Isaiah's words that he had come to preach good news to the poor - they weren't poor!

Not recognising poverty of spirit.

Jesus might speak of prisoners - they were surely free!

Not recognising the bondage of sin and unbelief.

Jesus might speak of blind receiving sight. They were not blind!

Not recognising the darkness that surrounded them.

And soon, as Jesus spoke of outsiders touched by God - their misplaced pride turned rejection into fury …

How quickly fascination and admiration led to offence and violence!

The Old Testament is indeed the Word of God : Jesus is indeed the anointed one

He is indeed : anointed by the Holy Spirit

preaching good news to the poor (in spirit)

proclaim freedom for captives

sight for the spiritually blind

release for the oppressed

Our preconceived ideas - our familiarity with a partly know Jesus

Our unwillingness to recognise our need of Him

These may mean that we do not believe - and for us He passes on - not to

return, except in judgement.

TODAY THIS SCRIPTURE IS FULFILLED IN YOUR HEARING

Accept our condition

Recognise the ministry of the Prophets

Embrace Him with faith and obedience.

© David A. Green BD

http://www.green-bd.freeserve.co.uk/bible/oldtestament.html