Luke 4:14-29 "And Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit; and news about Him spread through all the surrounding district."   He began in the synagogues.. teaching.  We know from Matthew's account that one of the Savior's teachings was what we call the beatitudes.. a fresh, new message that brought hope and joy and blessing as He taught that coming to the Lord God was not a matter of works, but of surrender.. recognizing one's poverty of spirit, mourning over one's sin and finding comfort; humbling one's self and finding acceptance and an inheritance from God.  Jesus taught in the synagogues so that His people could find Truth and become the children of God, not just the children of Abraham. 

Jesus went back to His hometown of Nazareth.  He went into the synagogue that He had grown up in. They handed Him the scroll of Isaiah.  He opened it to the place that we call Isaiah 61 and read what was written about Himself. " The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He annointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are downtrodden, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord." ( v18-19) 

What a message! The people at first praised the words that Jesus spoke, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in you hearing."  The message was "gracious" they said.. God was bringing the prophecies of Isaiah to life in this Man.  But.... "Is this not Joseph's son?"   Doubt overtook faith.  How could the son of Joseph, a carpenter, a common man.. be the Messiah?  How could He fulfill scripture?

So, they choose to test Him..they wanted signs.. they wanted miracles. They wanted Him to perform for them..to do the things He did in Capernaum.. and Jesus would not ... 

He told of Elijah... who went to the home of Zarephaph in Sidon instead of to a widow in Israel. He told of Elisha who ministered to Naaman the Syrian, healing him of leprosy.. instead of the lepers in Israel.  Others were chosen because they gained faith and Israel failed to have faith and missed the blessings. "And all in the synagogue were filled with rage as they heard these things.."  So they tried to kill Him, right there and then... proving their own unbelief.. revealing the sin in their own hearts.  

Father in heaven, You have given to us a gracious Lord, the Lamb of God, who came to save us from our sin. He has told us the Truth, for He is the Light that reveals truth and grace to us . His gospel message is precious to us for we are poor in spirit and He has granted us the kingdom of heaven.  We have mourned our sin and He has comforted us.  We have humbled ourselves before You and You have made us Your children with an eternal inheritance.  You have shown us mercy, You have filled us with righteousness, You have shown us Yourself in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Your Son... and You have  given us Your Spirit. We praise Your Name and give thanks to the One who came to set us free, to give us sight, and to proclaim Your favor. Your's is the kingdom, the power, and the glory! Amen!