This Tuesday, we continue our journey through the Gospel of Luke with a discussion of Luke 4:14-6:11. Please join us on our voyage. The only provision you will need is a Bible. You are welcome to join us anytime. In the readings last week, Jesus begins his preparation for ministry with his baptism and the temptations in the desert. This week Jesus begins his teaching and healing ministry in the region of Galilee, which encompasses his hometown of Nazareth and the fishing village of Capernaum.
The Synagogue in Nazareth: (vv.14-30)
Luke tells us that Jesus did not go straight from the desert home to Nazareth. Rather in the power of the Spirit, he taught in the synagogues throughout Galilee. vv.14-15. Jesus then shows up at his home synagogue in Nazareth and begins to read from the scroll of Isaiah. Luke points out that Jesus customarily attended a synagogue on the Sabbath, and Scripture reading is part of that tradition. As we have discussed, Luke continually shows us that Jesus is a good Jew who follows the rules and customs.
Also, as previously discussed, the first story of Jesus’ ministry in each gospel sets the tone for that Gospel and answers the question of who the gospel writer sees Jesus as. For Luke, Jesus is the fulfillment of the prophets. In the synagogue of Nazareth, Jesus reads from Isaiah 61:1-2 – The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news . . .” – and proclaims that he is the fulfillment of this verse. v.21. Luke tells us that the people marveled at his words of grace. v.22. The hometown boy done good has returned, and everyone seems to be happy.
But Jesus confronts his audience. It appears that some had been telling Jesus to do in Nazareth what he had done elsewhere – healings, exorcisms, etc. Jesus rejects this demand out-of-hand citing the cases of Elijah and the Widow and Elisha and Naaman whereby the respective prophet healed foreigners, not those from Israel. The people then rebel against Jesus and seek to throw him off a cliff. Throughout Acts, for example, Luke writes of similar rebellions by Jews against Paul’s message that the grace of the gospel includes Gentiles. e.g., Acts 17. Luke establishes this pattern here. (Notably, both Matthew and Mark place this incident later in their gospels and do not mention the Gentile stories. Mark 6:1-6, Matt. 13:53-58.
The Synagogue at Capernaum: (vv.31-37)
Jesus leaves Nazareth for the fishing village of Capernaum located at the northern tip of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus is teaching there on the sabbath, maybe from the same text. However, unlike Nazareth, the Jews of Capernaum embrace Jesus and recognize the authority of his teaching. Within the synagogue is a possessed man. The demons recognize Jesus for who he is, and cry out to him. Jesus rebukes the demons and they leave the man. In this exorcism, Jesus fulfills Isaiah 61:1c by setting a captive free, and he establishes for all to see that his authority is not simply in teaching, but extends to the spiritual realm as well.
As an aside, Mark begins his Gospel with this story: Mark 1:21-28. If Luke is the prophetic Gospel, Mark is the apocalyptic Gospel, in which Jesus’s primary role is confronting the spiritual forces of darkness.
Peter’s House: (vv.38-44)
Jesus leaves the synagogue and goes to Peter’s house. (This is Peter’s first mention in Luke’s Gospel.) Peter’s mother-in-law was sick with a fever. (Yes, the first pope was married. 1 Cor. 9:5.) Jesus heals her and she “arose and served.” v.39. The Greek word for “arise” is anistemi meaning to “raise up” but is also used to describe Jesus’s resurrection. Luke 24:46. Jesus also calls all of his disciples and himself to service (Gk: diakoneo). Luke 22:26. In the story of Peter’s mother-in-law we have a mini-gospel of resurrection and service.
Jesus spends the rest of the evening at Peter’s home healing diseases and freeing those under demonic possession. Luke points out that Jesus performs these acts through physical touch. There is a lesson for all of us.
Peter’s Boat: (vv. 5:1-11)
Jesus begs the people to let him go and continue his ministry. (4:43). This does not occur. Therefore, Jesus asks Peter if he could get into Peter’s boat and leave the shore to continue his teaching. Peter was working at the time on mending his nets and was not part of Jesus’ audience, but Peter consented to Jesus’ request.
Peter had been unsuccessfully fishing all night, probably when the crowd following Jesus occupied his house. Jesus tells Peter to lower his nets, and Peter complains that the fishing isn’t good, he just cleaned and repaired his nets, and that further attempts would be a waste of time. Nonetheless, Peter relents and hauls in a catch of fish that threatens to sink his boat. Peter heard Jesus teach at the synagogue, saw him heal his mother-in-law, and conduct exorcisms, but Jesus’s ability to spot fish was a game-changer. Peter falls on his knees and, like the demons, asks Jesus to leave him alone because he is a sinful man. Jesus responds that Peter is coming with him, along with his business partners, the sons of Zebedee. And they went. (Paul will later use this same terminology of business partners (koinonia) to describe those working with him in the gospel business. Phil. 1:5,7). Jesus has his first disciples.
Dinner is at 6. The menu is ham and bean stew with popovers. Discussion about 6:45. Please join us!
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good tidings to the afflicted;
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
and the day of vindication of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
Isaiah 61:1-2