Jesus Preaches in Nazareth: The Time of Fulfillment Has Come

Excerpt

Jesus appears to speak during the reading of the Prophets. He reads from Isaiah 61:1–2, a passage that promises the coming of God’s salvation. His commentary, unlike most sermons, is brief, declaring simply, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” The claim is so great that we need to work through the elements of the Old Testament passage carefully.

The passage starts with Jesus’ claim that the Spirit of the Lord is on me. Jesus claims to be directed by God to minister and preach. The details follow, but interestingly, the reader of Luke’s Gospel knows more about what this means than Jesus’ original synagogue audience would have known at the time. The first hearers would have heard a claim for a divinely directed ministry, but they may not have realized that at his baptism Jesus had been anointed not just for a prophetic ministry but as Messiah. Readers of Luke have the memory of the anointing fresh in their recall. Jesus’ remark recalls 3:21–22. His statement, along with what follows, shows that he is both an anointed Son and a prophetic figure. He reveals God’s will and brings God’s promise. More

Bock, Darrell L. Luke. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1994. Print. The IVP New Testament Commentary Series.