Jesus was brought up in Nazareth but he lived in Capernaum. The reactions of the people in the Synagogues in these two towns is vey instructive. In Nazareth Jesus stated clearly that the reading from Isaiah was now fulfilled in him. The people cannot have heard the implications of this since they spoke well of him.
22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked.
Jesus saw through their words and pressed the point so much that they drove him out of the Synagogue.
28 All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. 29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. 30 But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.
Jesus had to be almost objectionable to get this reaction, which was the true state of their hearts. He did not allow what we often get from people: "nice word pastor". He pushed past this and made people face up to their real attitudes.
However in Capernaum the situation was different.
32 They were amazed at his teaching, because his words had authority.
This positive reaction was further enhanced after he drove the demon out of the man in the Synagogue.
36 All the people were amazed and said to each other, “What words these are! With authority and power he gives orders to impure spirits and they come out!” 37 And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area.
What would happen if we were to take this example to ourselves? If we were as bold as Jesus surely the same results would happen, news about Him would spread.
Are we willing to expose ourselves to this degree of vulnerability by being so direct with people as we share the good news of Jesus without compromise.
I hope we are, because this is the only was people are going to be challenged to turn their lives around and follow Jesus. Nice sounding words will never achieve this result. Only the truth spoken with boldness with a demonstration of the power of the Holy Spirit will achieve the purposes of God.
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