‘And they said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?”’ (Luke 4:22 ESV).
After Jesus spent forty days in the wilderness being tested, He returned to the town of Nazareth where He had grown up. He attended the local synagogue and chose the passage from the Isaiah scroll that spoke of the Anointed One, the Messiah, who was to come. Having read this passage, he lifted his eyes from the Scripture and instead of offering a rabbi’s usual commentary, He said, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing” (21). He claimed to be the “fulfillment” of Isaiah’s prophecy. He claimed to be the Messiah, the Christ.
This created quite a stir in the small synagogue. His hometown people rejected his claim saying, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” Their familiarity with Jesus actually caused them to doubt and reject Him. Knowing a little about Jesus, seemed to make it harder for them to actually know Him.
Is this happening in America, where most are familiar with the story of Jesus, but not many actually believe in Him as Lord and Savior? Even for those who grew up attending church, have they equated knowledge of Jesus with saving faith? Just knowing about Jesus is not the same as knowing Jesus. Familiarity is not faith.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we not only know about Jesus, but we have believed in Him as Lord and Savior. We have trusted in His payment on the cross for our sins and His resurrection for our justification. And we have the Spirit of Christ abiding within us, affirming our new status as children of God. We praise You, Father, for the gift of Your Son and of Your Spirit. Now strengthen us to declare Jesus to the nations that they might know Him too. In Jesus’ name, amen.