Image from torahapologetics.com
Hear the devo: https://bit.ly/4gvvCrL
View devo: https://bit.ly/3Ce9bcv
21 Then he began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." 22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, "Is not this Joseph's son?" 23 He said to them, "Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, "Doctor, cure yourself!' And you will say, "Do here also in your hometown the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.' " 24 And he said, "Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet's hometown. 25 But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; 26 yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. 27 There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian." 28 When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. 29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. 30 But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way. (Luke 4:21-30 NRSV)
Today is part two of what we studied last Monday; Jesus, hometown boy preaching in his hometown synagogue. I as a hometown boy of two churches, one in Kingsville and Houston, never had a chance to preach in Houston, but later as a district superintendent, did preach and do some baptisms in Kingsville's El Buen Pastor. In fact, Saturday Nellie and I drove by that church, which thank God, is still in relatively good shape. The people I knew as a boy were all gone by the time I preached and I did not share anything as profound as Jesus did in this passage. I imagine Jesus' Aunt Mildred from his mother's side, and Tía San Juanita are sitting next to each other that Sabbath and both are smiling that their little nephew, now all grown and honored with the opportunity to preach their Sabbath. They're filled with pride and expectation that little Jesse is going to share God's word. The congregation was slow in coming, but soon the good seats were filled, in the back, and family members had taken the front ones. The religious leaders were close to the front and synagogue officials were near Jesus. How handsome Jesus was, thought one of them as He stood to receive the scroll, and how commanding His voice! Now, He sat and the crowd braced for the sermon. "Great choice, my son, for reading from Isaiah! Oh, for that day to come soon!" said Juanita to herself.
"Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." Wait. What? The crowd did not expect this, and the so-called religious leaders did not tolerate this! Jesus is a person and He's taking words from a page and into life! Wait. We cannot have this! We're more comfortable with words staying words, not becoming real and a part of our lives!
It’s a striking shift. These people, who knew him as the carpenter’s son, couldn’t reconcile the extraordinary message he brought with the familiar face they had always seen. How could someone so ordinary—someone they had watched grow up—claim to be the fulfillment of a divine promise? Their expectations collided with the reality of the truth. Isn't it what happens to us, especially when the Holy Spirit speaks to us and we listen, and then believe it enough to allow it to transform us.
This passage calls us to reflect on how often we, too, struggle to see God working in the places and people we least expect. The truth Jesus offers can feel unsettling, especially when it challenges our assumptions, preferences, and comfort zones. The people of Nazareth could not accept the radical implications of Jesus' message because it felt too close to home. They wanted the Messiah to come in a way they could control, in a form that fit their expectations.
Jesus, however, pushes beyond their limits and challenges their narrow vision. He points out that God's grace isn't bound by human biases or national boundaries—he reminds them that God’s love extends to the outsiders, to those they might dismiss. The truth of the gospel isn't always easy, and sometimes, it doesn’t come in the package we imagine.
Jesus' words in this passage serve as an epiphany: a sudden realization that God's plans are often bigger, broader, and more inclusive than we can fathom. It’s a reminder that the Kingdom of God is not just about what we want it to be, but about what God has chosen it to be. And in that reality, there is both comfort and discomfort.
Sometimes the epiphany comes when we realize we have to let go of our own narrow definitions of who is worthy of grace. It comes when we open our eyes to the truth that God is at work in unexpected people, places, and ways. When the message of Christ feels too familiar, too personal, or too challenging, it might just be God inviting us into a deeper understanding of His boundless love.
PRAYER: Loving God, we thank You for the truth of Your Word, even when it challenges our comfort and understanding. Like the people of Nazareth, we sometimes struggle to recognize You when You speak in ways that are unfamiliar or unrecognizable. Open our hearts to the epiphany of Your love, that it might transform us and extend through us to the world. Help us to let go of our narrow expectations and embrace the fullness of Your Kingdom. Teach us to see You in the unexpected, and to receive Your grace, no matter how it comes. This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: This week, take a moment to reflect on a person or group you’ve had a hard time accepting or understanding. Pray for God’s grace to open your eyes to see His image in them. How might God be inviting you to widen the circle of your love and compassion? Let this be a week of expanding your heart.
I love you and I thank God for you!
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
