Luke 4:14 tells us that, after a time of testing, Jesus “returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about Him spread throughout the entire vicinity. He was teaching in their synagogues, being acclaimed by everyone.” It is at this time that Jesus stops by for a visit in His hometown. The people of Nazareth had a choice. They knew Jesus as the hometown boy, the son of Mary and Joseph. What they didn’t know is who this hometown boy really was and the message He was going to share with them. They had no idea that the Son of God, the Messiah, Emmanuel (God with Us) had been in their presence while He was growing up. Let’s look at their choice when they were standing face-to-face with the Messiah. Let’s learn from Jesus about speaking the truth of the gospel, even when people choose to reject it.

Luke 4:16-30 begins with Jesus getting ready to read a passage of Scripture from Isaiah in the local Nazareth synagogue during Sabbath worship. Knowing what we know about Jesus—that He is the Son of God, He and the Father are One, He is God—I want you to imagine this unfolding. The Author of the Bible, the One who gave Isaiah the words to write, the One whom Isaiah was writing about, was reading the passage. He was telling the people what He had given Isaiah to write about Himself. 

This is where the narrative begins! As you continue your study through the entire passage you will discover the true scope of the gospel as Jesus explains that the gospel is for everyone and anyone who will respond. He uses the examples of two who would be viewed by His hometown and by most Jews of His day as unworthy candidates--two Gentiles.

He reveals the true nature of the gospel and the choices people have when they are confronted with the truth of the gospel. Then, Luke describes to us the rejection Jesus experienced in His own hometown when sharing the truth of the gospel.