Read Luke 4:23-31
Jesus is in his hometown and has just read his mission statement and sat down at the attention of everyone in the synagogue. He then prophesies that in the future they are going to hear about the miracles he is going to be doing in Capernaum and ask why he didn't do any here. But his reply is going to be, "No prophet is accepted in his own country." Then he goes on to offend them even more when he uses 2 examples of people being singled out by God to be healed. The offensive thing is that they are both Gentiles. What? Who was this ordinary man they knew as a kid coming in here telling them that God was going to pass them up and go after Gentiles? This was blasphemous! That is why they rose up and threw him out of the city and would have pushed him over the hill if God hadn't transported him to Capernaum where he was going to do those miracles he told them he would do.
When he got there he taught in the synagogue and a man with a demon started manifesting. He recognized Jesus as the son of God and Jesus shut him up and delivered the guy. The people were so amazed they told everyone so that the fame of him went out into every place of the country round about - that would include Nazareth.
Lord, may we, like Jesus not let the rejection of one group stop us from being bold with the next. If we follow you we will face persecution and rejection. May it make us stronger.
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