Luke tells us about the birth of Jesus, His baptism, and His temptations in the wilderness. The next story recorded in Luke is about Jesus reading in the synagogue and identifying Himself as the fulfillment of a prophecy from Isaiah 61. It is quite a spectacular claim to say that the healing, redemption, and wholeness that was prophesied—and for which the Jews had long yearned and waited—was now complete. And that He is the One who completes it.
I imagine that some of those hearers laughed at Him. Others were offended at such a claim. I think Jesus was immediately dismissed by some who listened that day. Indeed, later in the chapter, we read that the people in the synagogue “were furious when they heard this. They got up and drove him out of town” (v. 28-29).
Yet there were some who heard it who dared to believe that what Jesus said was actually true. There were some who realized that Jesus was not deranged nor was He irreligious. There was those who understood, some slowly and some more quickly, that Jesus was sent from God to fulfill the promises made by the prophet Isaiah.
In our world today, there are many who have similar reactions to the teachings of Jesus. Some laugh, others dismiss, and still others become angry. There are those who think it is impossible that God would bring good news to the poor or freedom for the prisoners or recovery of sight for the blind. There are some who cannot imagine that the oppressed will be released. But just as in the day of Jesus, there are some who dare to believe Him, to trust Him, and to place their faith in what He teaches by joining Him in the redemption He came to bring.
To which group do you belong?