Show Don't Tell: Luke 4:14-30

Instead of saying "Jesus was rejected in Nazareth," hear the scroll unroll. Jesus returns to Galilee in the power of the Spirit. News about him spreads. He teaches in their synagogues, and everyone praises him. He comes to Nazareth, where he has been brought up. On the Sabbath he goes into the synagogue, as is his custom, and stands up to read. He is handed the scroll of Isaiah. Unrolling it, he finds the place: "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." He rolls up the scroll, gives it back, sits down. Every eye is fixed on him. "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." They speak well of him, amazed at the gracious words. "Isn't this Joseph's son?" Jesus responds: "No prophet is accepted in his hometown." Elijah was sent to a widow in Sidon; Elisha healed Naaman the Syrian—both Gentiles, not Israelites. All the people are furious. They drive him out of town, take him to the brow of the hill to throw him off the cliff. But he walks right through the crowd and goes on his way. From praise to murder attempt in one sermon.