Tuesday, January 4, 2022

Getting to Know Jesus #4

After reporting about the rejection Jesus faced in His hometown of Nazareth, Luke proceeds to show a sharp contrast in Capernaum.
4:31 And he went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And he was teaching them on the Sabbath, 32 and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word possessed authority. 33 And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, 34 “Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” 35 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm. 36 And they were all amazed and said to one another, “What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!” 37 And reports about him went out into every place in the surrounding region.
At both places people were astonished at Jesus' powerful words, but there was a sharp contrast in how they responded to those words practically. At Nazareth, they responded with disbelief. Jesus knew that even if He did great signs and miracles there, they would be taken for granted and not associated with His words.  Here we find that people were focused on His word. Even in the miracle itself they asked each other "What is this word?" They recognized the authority and power of His word.  Do we live more for the Wow, or do we hang on His words? 

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