Jesus' Grand Hometown Announcement

And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.  And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all. (Luke 4: 14-15)

By way of review, let me comment that Jesus is here returning from his time of fasting in the wilderness.  He had gone into the wilderness to fast and to be with God.  While there, he also was met by Satan, of which we read in verses 1 through 13. 

And now, the experience passed, he returns with spiritual power.  He is ready to begin his formal adult ministry -- a ministry that will end with his crucifixion and resurrection.

Verse 15 mentions that Jesus taught in the people's synagogues.  I am left with the impression that in the course of his ministry up to this time, he had taught in many synagogues and had been well received.  As the story goes, however, he eventually travels through his home town of Nazareth and there receives a different kind of response. 

Let me quote the scriptures, and comment further as we go.

And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. 

Here reveals something about Jesus' pattern of preaching.  He had developed a custom of entering the local synagogue, wherever he was at the time, and standing up to read from the scriptures as part of the pattern of sabbath worship. 

I wonder, however, what did he do other days?  He must have preached in their streets, and in their homes, and in any place he could gain an ear to listen.

And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,  To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.  And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.  (Luke 4: 16-21)

First, its interesting to see briefly into the pattern of worship in the Lord's day.  A minister, someone of authority who kept the scriptures and apparently directed the group's discussion, provided and then received the scriptures back from Jesus after his reading. 

After reading his text, Jesus actually sits down -- and all the people look at him anticipating some kind of commentary and explanation.  "Why did you read that Jesus?  What does it mean to us today?"

This scripture foretells the coming of the Messiah.  More specifically, it foretells the Messiah engaged in preaching the Gospel while simultaneously healing many kinds of spiritual and physical afflictions.

The people to whom Jesus spoke -- the congregation in his hometown synagogue in Nazareth -- were aware that Jesus had been preaching throughout Galilee.  They knew of the miracles he had performed in other communities. So, when Jesus reads the prophesy of Isaiah about the Messiah's ministry and states that today the prophecy is fulfilled in their hearing, they knew what he meant.

Jesus was saying unambiguously that he is the Messiah, that he is the one of which Isaiah prophesied so many years before.

In the Beginning Was the Word

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men (John 1: 1-4).

When I consider the person of Jesus, Jeshua, Emanuel, God With Us, I am moved to wonder and admiration. This man, this brother, this Savior, this final example whose life I seek to emulate, my small ways following his great ways. When I ponder my best friend, where he has been, what he has accomplished, what he continues to do for the family of his Father, my heart swells with gratitude that I ever knew him.

I do not marvel nor fall back in disbelief. I am humbled to know this truth for he is the light of men, my light, my life. He is a Man of Holiness walking a road that I am also meant to walk. "Come, follow me" he says.

He was in the beginning with God and indeed at the beginning of God's plans, there was Jesus, Jehovah, the great I Am. He was also a God -- the second member of the Godhead, which is the great presidency of the universe. He was (and is) the "Word of my power" as referred to by Elohim, the Eternal Father of us all.

As the Word of God's power Jesus created all things under the direction of his and our Father.

We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of these materials, and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell.  And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them (Abraham 3: 24-25).

How is he the life and light of men (of all persons)? In the beginning, as God the Father made his plans, this Eldest Brother offered himself as the foreordained Savior of mankind.

And the Lord said: Whom shall I send? And one answered like unto the Son of Man: Here am I, send me (Abraham 3: 27)

He was thus anointed the Christ (in Greek) the Messiah (in Hebrew) the Anointed One (in English). It was the anticipation of his mortal life and atonement that even in those pre-mortal realms caused the morning stars and all the sons and daughters of God to shout for joy. We were among those sons and daughters.  We are the very same sons and daughters.

With his pre-mortal promise to offer himself as a sacrifice for sin and a balm for suffering, we took courage and by the word of our testimony (our faith in him) we overcame Lucifer, that once promising Son of the Morning, who sought to bring down the throne of God.

Jesus gave us life and light from the beginning because his atonement (though yet future), even then (before we were born) gave us the promise of the resurrection and of eternal life.  Moreover, his words and his example show us the path to attain every promise.

The light and life he gives is also evident in mortality.  It's not only something otherwordly.  The principles of the atonement, of his gospel, and of the lifestyle his teachings require combine to form the only sure foundation for freedom and prosperity in this world.

Unique Aspects of the Four Gospels

Biblical scholars have observed characteristics that are unique to each of the four testimonies of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. I hope to observe these myself as I study the new testament this year and for the rest of my life. The following is paraphrased from Lesson 1 of The Life and Teachings of Jesus & His Apostles.

The Testimony of Matthew contains a heavy emphasis on how Jesus' life fulfilled prophecies of the Old Testament.

Mark's writing is the most brief of the four and stresses the miracles of Jesus. Some believe that Mark associated closely with Peter during his ministry and see an influence from Peter's writings in Mark's book.

Luke portrays a particularly compassionate picture of the Savior. He emphasizes forgiveness and love with the message that sinners can find peace in Jesus.

John's testimony reveals a more intimate view of the Savior, emphasizing his relationships with other, including his relationship with God the Father. His emphasizes the divine in Christ with less details about specific events of Christ's ministry.

Where to Find the Personality of Christ

As we look to see the life and personality of the Master, we must include an investigation of the words, actions and personalities of his disciples. Much of Jesus' personal history has been either lost or possibly never written (at least not here on earth). But we can glimpse more of him by viewing the lives of men who knew him -- the ones who strove to emulate him as his disciples in the ministry of the early church.

I suggest that as we read, we watch for anything that sheds light upon the personality of each disciple, particular as it might reveal their virtues, love, compassion, strengths, etc. Then ask, did the disciple observe this trait in their Master? Did their experiences with him serve to magnify this virtue in themselves?

This will help in the endeavor. Coming to know Christ, however, will still require more.

"To learn of Christ necessitates the study of the scriptures and the testimonies of those who know him. We come to know him through prayer and the inspiration and revelation that God had has promised to those who keep his commandments." (Ezra Taft Benson, CR Oct 1972).

Furthermore:

"He that keepeth his commandments receiveth truth and light, until he is glorified in truth and knoweth all things." (Doctrine & Covenants 93: 28)