Originally posted: 09/13/2019
Jesus, having triumphed over the enemy in the wilderness, full of the Holy Spirit and His power, returns to His hometown and the news is spreading.
And Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about Him spread through all the surrounding district. 15 And He began teaching in their synagogues and was praised by all, (4:14).
There is a sense of wonder and the people praise His teaching. He had authority. He was different than any they had ever heard. The people were intrigued but they could not understand this Man’s ability or explain the source of His authoritative preaching. And as long as He performed signs and wonder and taught what they deemed inoffensive, the praise flowed.
The people, like seesaws, teetered between gushing accolades and hurling accusations. But the fickleness of humanity would not derail Him. Whether or not He was accepted or Misunderstood, He came to do the will of His Father.
“For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me,” (John 6:38).
Consider Him, So Misunderstood
- So Misunderstood in His Claim ~
- 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?” (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?” (4:20-22).
- So Misunderstood in His Indictment ~
- And He said, “Truly I say to you, no prophet is welcome in his hometown. 25 But I say to you in truth, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah… 26 and yet Elijah was sent to none of them… 27 And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” 28 And all the people in the synagogue were filled with rage as they heard these things; 29 and they got up and drove Him out of the city, and led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city had been built, in order to throw Him down the cliff, (4:24-29).
- And He said, “Truly I say to you, no prophet is welcome in his hometown. 25 But I say to you in truth, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah… 26 and yet Elijah was sent to none of them… 27 And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” 28 And all the people in the synagogue were filled with rage as they heard these things; 29 and they got up and drove Him out of the city, and led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city had been built, in order to throw Him down the cliff, (4:24-29).
- So Misunderstood in His Authority ~
- 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, (4:31).
- 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, (4:31).
- So Misunderstood in His Power ~
- And amazement came upon them all, and they began talking with one another saying, “What is this message? For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits and they come out.” 37 And the report about Him was spreading into every locality in the surrounding district, (4:36-37).
- And amazement came upon them all, and they began talking with one another saying, “What is this message? For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits and they come out.” 37 And the report about Him was spreading into every locality in the surrounding district, (4:36-37).
- So Misunderstood in His Purpose ~
- 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 the other cities also, for I was sent for this purpose,” (4:42-43).
- 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 the other cities also, for I was sent for this purpose,” (4:42-43).
How do we respond to Him, So Misunderstood?
Today is really no different than those days of Jesus. There are still many who So Misunderstand Him and choose to reject rather than accept by faith.
We will never fully understand all His ways; but we can humble ourselves, and in faith ask that He might give us ears to hear His voice and wisdom to understand His truth.
Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice,” (John 10:37).
- Lord, grant us wisdom to accept and understand the Truth of Your Claim.
- Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me, (John 14:6).
- Lord, grant us wisdom to accept and understand the Truth of Your Indictment.
- for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; 23 For the wages of sin is death, (Romans 3:23; 6:23).
- Lord, grant us wisdom to accept and understand the Truth of Your Authority.
- “Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, and walk’? 6 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Get up, pick up your bed and go home.” 7 And he got up and went home, (Matthew 9:5-7).
- “I lay down My life so that I may take it again. 18 No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father,” (John 10:17-18).
- Lord, grant us wisdom to accept and understand the Truth of Your Power.
- And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power, (Hebrews 1:3).
- Lord, grant us wisdom to accept and understand the Truth of Your Purpose.
- Jesus said to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners,” (Mark 2:17).
- “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day,” (John 6:38-40).
- You were chosen according to the purpose of God the Father and were made a holy people by his Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be purified by his blood. May grace and peace be yours in full measure, (1 Peter 1:2 Good News Translation).
Lord, please may we hear Your voice each and every day, that You would grow us in Your wisdom, Your grace, and Your peace. Oh Lord, by the blood of Jesus and the power of Your Holy Spirit, purify us in our love and obedience as You empower us to So Understand Your Truth.