Nazareth Was Not A Primary

In the two times Luke gave us Jesus’ list of the identifying features of his footprint the list is not exactly the same. We would not expect it to be. He is not hawking a catchy, mnemonic campaign platform. However, there is a statement found both times. When Jesus read from Isaiah it appeared first in the list; but in his message to John, he put it last. It is important and would play an important role in the course Jesus took to claim his authority.

The poor have the gospel preached to them.

I think the remark is misunderstood by some. I know it rankles many. For the moment, though, I will set it aside. What interests me here is Jesus' homily which included a jarring accusation and turned the amazed audience into a vicious mob.

Basically, he said, “I am who I am. I’m not here for your vote. This is not a primary, and I’m not running for office.” 

• You are going to try to discredit me with slogans.
• You want packaging… a road show.
• You will fulfill the truth that a prophet is not honored in his own country.
• And, although you are Israelites, you will be left out in the cold.
• Elijah ministered to a gentile woman, not any of the Israelite women, during a famine.
• Elisha ministered to a gentile soldier with leprosy, not to any Israelite lepers during his prophetic tenure.

These were the words of a man who assumed considerable authority, and they had the same impact on the Nazarene congregation as they have had on pagans and hypocrites, and sometimes even devoted disciples down to this day. They invite resistance. In Nazareth, the people tried to throw him over a cliff.

From this point on Luke recorded significant features of Jesus’ demonstration that his claim was not an idle one, and that his footprint would bear it out.

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