Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him. He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, 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, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
Luke 4:14-21
Fix Your Eyes on Jesus
All eyes are on you. What do you say? Do you tell a joke? Share some intriguing insights on the political and economic conditions in faraway places? Tell a personal story that has people chuckling or tearing up?
All eyes were fixed on Jesus. He was in his hometown's synagogue (their local place of worship.) He read a section of God's Word from the prophet Isaiah. They were waiting for what he would say. All eyes were fixed on Jesus.
"Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing," he declared. That might not mean much when it hits your eyes and ears, but Jesus' 1st Century audience knew what he was saying. The section of Isaiah that Jesus had just read to them talked about the promised Savior. He was clearly telling them: "I am the promised Messiah, the Savior, the Son of God."
What did they do with that information? Was this man who had grown up before their eyes really the Savior, the Son of God? Many of them totally and emphatically rejected Jesus' message. In fact, a few verses later it is reported that the people of Jesus' hometown unsuccessfully tried to kill Jesus.
Jesus delivers the same message to you. Jesus is the Messiah, the Savior of the world, the Son of God. What do you do with that information? Don't disregard it or dump it on the trash heap. Instead, trust this good news. Jesus is your Savior from sin and eternal death. He is the Son of God who rescued you and rules all things for you.
Trust this good news and explore it even more. Pick up a Bible and read more about Jesus. Perhaps start with one of the Gospels–Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John. Make public worship a regular part of your weekly routine (just like it was for Jesus.) Dig even deeper into God's Word–join a Bible study that leads you to know more and more about your Savior. There, in the Bible is God's message for you. And, when God, your Savior, speaks up–listen and trust him.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your Son, Jesus, to be my Savior. Help me to trust in him and his saving work more and more. Lead me to study your holy Word. Work through your Word and increase my knowledge and love of you. Amen.
This devotion was selected from the Daily Devotion archive.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
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