The following scene at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry takes place in what appears to be immediately after the temptation in the desert. Some scholars suggest that Luke places this at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry for thematic purposes others suggest this is evidence of Luke’s desire of strict historicity. Either works really.
14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee, and a report concerning him went out through all the surrounding country.
Jesus’ has received his baptism, his anointing, by John the Baptist, not because he needed to repent but to qualify him by natural signs to be a prophet. (Basically for our benefit). Following that he was tempted in the desert by Satan and of course Jesus passes with flying colours. He now returns to Galilee “in the power of the Spirit”, his public life has begun and his divine mission begins in front of all to see. A “report concerning him went out through all the surrounding country”.
15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.
Jesus makes himself known by the masses of Jews by teaching in their Synagogues. This was the local community teaching and prayer hub that would have been built in every town. Jesus is glorified by all that hear him. When positioning himself as only a Rabbi, Jesus receives no opposition, he is glorified by all. This means elders and scribes who are present in the synagogues did not have a problem when they thought he was just being a rabbi.
16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up; and he went to the synagogue, as his custom was, on the sabbath day. And he stood up to read;
Jesus returns to the place of his childhood, in this case, those who he would be preaching to and teaching in this synagogue of Nazareth, would already know who he is. To them he is not some itinerant wise rabbi, he is “that guy down the road”. I always find that kind of funny, he has been living quietly and obediently to his parents up until the point that he is to be made known to the world, so none of the people who grew up with him would have seen this coming.
Jesus goes to the Synagogue “as his custom was, on the sabbath day”. It was not a requirement to attend Synagogue, it is not the Temple but Jesus as an obedient and faithful first century Jewish Palestinian went every Sabbath. This was seen as a sign of holiness as only a pious person would do something optional so consistently. A little side note, they actually discovered the first century foundations of a synagogue exactly where Nazareth was supposed to be, much to the annoyance of modern sceptics who doubt the place ever existed at all.
Jesus as he has done in the previous synagogues, begins to teaching. Starting the start of the Synagogue service where the Rabbi would stand up to read from the Law of Moses or one of the Prophets, these writings would be copied on scrolls that were stored in jars in the building itself. He will stand up to read and sit down to teach, as we will see.
17 and there was given to him the book of the prophet Isaiah. He opened the book and found the place where it was written,
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
19 to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”
Weird translation choices for the modern ears, a SCROLL of the Prophet Isaiah was given to Jesus to read, and he finds a place where it is written or actually multiple places because Jesus does not directly quote one particular passage. Jesus uses three different components of Isaiah as a witness to his ministry. Isaiah 61:1, 35:5/42:7, 58:6 and then finishes the lines of the first section quoted 61:2. This is a summary of his mission details ,who sent him and why.
20 And he closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.
Jesus rolls up the scroll….and gives it back to the attendant or minister. This was person who was in charge of maintaining the synagogue along with the very valuable scriptures within them, Jesus sits down because this is the correct teaching position in the first century Judaism. Teaching authority is in the Seat of Moses, not the pulpit. All the eyes of those in in attendance of the synagogue service are on him, as they should be. This was how a synagogue service went, the Rabbi would stand and read then sit and teach. This is where they would get their first century Jewish catechesis, this is the origin of the Liturgy of the Word that we have in the Mass. So everyone should be paying attention.
21 And he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
22 And all spoke well of him, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth; and they said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?”
Instead of teaching on what he read out to them, Jesus announces that it was a prophecy that in their hearing…is fulfilled. This is not a lesson as much as a proclamation. The people arrive every Sabbath to hear a teaching on the Prophets or the Law but Jesus has instead proclaimed the year of the Lords favour, the promised time when the captives will be freed. The thing that the Christ, the Anointed One, would do, will be done and actually has been fulfilled and also, Jesus is that anointed one because God is upon him. To us this all sounds good because we believe it but you have to imagine the reaction from the people who grew up with “normal” Jesus in Nazareth. Is he not just Joseph’s son?
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