Lesson 7

I.       Observation

A.     Outline

Returning to Galilee and Preaching in Nazareth (4:14-30)

Preaching in Capernaum (4:31-41)

Preaching and healing the demon-possessed (31-37)

Healing Simon’s mother-in-law (38-39)

Healing the multitude (40-41)

Preaching in Other Cities of Galilee (4:42-44)

B.     Key Words/Phrases

In the power of the Spirit, taught, glorified by all, Spirit of the Lord, preach, proclaim, marveled, gracious words, teaching, astonished, authority, Holy One of God, rebuked, amazed, power, Christ, the Son of God, must/for this purpose.

II.    General Analysis

1. See verses 18, 19, 22, 32, 35, 36, 39, 41, 43.

2. The emphasis on Jesus’ preaching ministry in this passage points out that He was the Prophet Moses had predicted. Jesus even stated explicitly that He was the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy, which stressed the prophetic role of the Messiah (Note that the words Spirit, anointing, sent, preach, proclaim, are familiar words describing the ministries of OT prophets).

III. Segment Analysis

1. See verse 15.

2a. That the gospel is preached to the poor means that the gospel will give spiritual abundance to those who humbly seek God (Mt 5:3,6). The gospel heals the brokenhearted because the Lord’s love and forgiveness restore those in despair and sorrow (Mt 12:20; Ps 51:17). The liberty that the gospel gives refers to freedom from the power of sin (Rom 8:1-4; 1Tim 1:15). Recovery of sight to the blind refers not only to physical healing but also restoration of spiritual sight (1Cor 2:10-16; 2Cor 4:4-6).

2c. Just as the priests and prophets were anointed before they carried out their mission, a preacher must receive the anointing of God’s Spirit to engage in proclaiming the gospel. God sends and empowers His workers by giving them the Holy Spirit so that their work may carry spiritual power and authority ( Acts 1:8). We can see such anointing in Jesus (Lk 4:14).

3. Their amazement was probably twofold: 1. They were amazed that the son of a carpenter, whom they all knew so well, could speak such wise and powerful words. 2. They were amazed that Jesus, whom they thought was an ordinary man of their own town, claimed to be the fulfillment of Isaiah’s messianic prophecy.

4a. As Simeon had prophesied many years before, Jesus would cause the fall and rising of many in Israel, and that He would be a sign which will be spoken against, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed (Lk 2:34-35). On the one hand, the purpose of Jesus’ preaching was to save those who would accept Him. But on the other hand, it also served to reveal the stubbornness of unbelievers (cf. Jn 12:48).

5a. The people of Nazareth, who had heard the miraculous deeds Jesus had done in Capernaum, would demand Him to prove Himself here in His own town. In other words, they did not believe that Jesus, the son of Joseph, could actually have done the great things they had heard about.

5b. God is under no obligation to show special favor to His chosen people, and He may freely choose to give His grace to the Gentiles. Likewise, the blessings of the gospel would be given to people other than those of Jesus’ own town because of their unbelief.

5c. Their rage was due to their indignation. Jesus’s words pointed out that while they thought they were rejecting Jesus, they were actually being rejected by God. Just as it was pride that prevented them from believing Jesus, it was also pride that incited them to kill Him now.

7. Unlike the teachers of the law, who derived their authority from traditions of men and the opinions of their predecessors, Jesus, being the Son of God, was the authority behind His own words. For example, in Matthew chapter 5, Jesus repeatedly used the words, “but I say to you…” to contrast traditional teachings with the new principles He was laying down.

12. The rabbinic regulations prohibited them from bringing the sick for healing on the Sabbath (cf. 13:14). This detailed description shows the desperate need of the multitude for healing and the irony of the prohibition to do good on the Sabbath.

13a. Mark 1:35 tells us that Jesus withdrew to a solitary place to pray. Jesus needed to spend quiet time with the Heavenly Father so He might focus on His relationship with the Father and receive from Him the spiritual strength He needed.

14a. So they might always receive the blessings of Jesus’ ministry, perhaps in particular, His healing.

14b. The key words “I must” and “for this purpose I have been sent” indicate Jesus’ sense of mission. While healing was important, that wasn’t the main purpose of Jesus’ ministry. He must bring the gospel of the Kingdom to other cities also so that more people might believe Him and be saved.