Day 3

Scripture to Read: Luke 4:20–22

Jesus had just read from Isaiah 61:1–2, and as was customary, He was expected to provide interpretation and teaching based on the reading. God had Luke record the following in Luke 4:20–22 “And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, ‘Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’ 22 And all were speaking well of Him, and wondering at the gracious words which were falling from His lips; and they were saying, ’Is this not Joseph’s son?’” Jesus provided the people with the following facts. First, that God led Isaiah to write this prophecy about Him. Second, that this prophecy was being fulfilled in their presence. Jesus continued to teach and that is why God had Luke record the people’s reaction to Jesus’s teaching. Jesus spoke with words that were full of grace. First, the people were overwhelmed by the goodness and grace of God in the announcement Jesus made that the Messiah was with them. But then, after their initial amazement, they began to resent that “Joseph’s son” could claim to be the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy. People without a relationship with God through Christ may initially respond to the Gospel with joy and amazement when they first hear it. Jesus spoke of this in Matthew 13:3–23, Mark 4:3–20, and Luke 8:4–15 in the parable of the sower and the seed. Therefore, a heart must be ready to receive God’s truth to be transformed by it.

Challenge & Application

Why were the people initially amazed at what Christ was teaching them? Why did the people’s attitude change? (Read through Matthew 13:18–23, Mark 4:14–20, and Luke 8:11–15 for more insight.)

Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!

Devotionals from this week

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Day 1

Jesus knew what He came to do: to preach the gospel of God, to seek and to save the lost, and to give His life as a ransom for many. God had Luke write in Luke 4:16, “And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read.” Jesus went to the city where He had...

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Day 2

The typical order of service in a synagogue often began with prayers and blessings, acknowledging God’s sovereignty and supremacy. Then the “Shema,” a declaration of faith in one God (Deuteronomy 6:4–9), was recited. Often, portions of the Torah (the first five books of the Pentateuch, attributed to Moses) were read. Then, a selection from th...

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Day 3

Jesus had just read from Isaiah 61:1–2, and as was customary, He was expected to provide interpretation and teaching based on the reading. God had Luke record the following in Luke 4:20–22 “And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them...

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Day 4

No doubt, what Jesus had taught never took root. God had Luke record this in Luke 4:23–30, “And He said to them, ‘No doubt you will quote this proverb to Me, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we heard was done at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.’ 24 And He said, ‘Truly I say to you, no prophet is welcome in his hometown. 25 But ...

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Day 5

Jesus continued His ministry, and we read this in Luke 4:31–37, “And He came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and He was teaching them on the Sabbath; 32 and they were amazed at His teaching, for His message was with authority. 33 In the synagogue there was a man possessed by the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud v...

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Day 6

Jesus was all about carrying out the Father’s perfect will. Jesus said in John 6:38, “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.” Jesus said this several times during His earthly ministry. We read in Luke 4:38–41, “Then He got up and left the synagogue, and entered Simon’s home. Now Simon’s mothe...

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Day 7

We know Jesus is God, but when He walked here on earth, He was also 100% man. God had Luke record this in Luke 4:42–44, “When day came, Jesus left and went to a secluded place; and the crowds were searching for Him, and came to Him and tried to keep Him from going away from them. 43 But He said to them, ‘I must preach the kingdom of God to th...

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