What Jesus Did

Once when [Jesus] was in the synagogue [in ###], a man possessed by a demon — an evil spirit — cried out, shouting, "Go away! Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are — the Holy One of God!"
But Jesus reprimanded him. "Be quiet! Come out of the man," he ordered. At that, the demon threw the man to the floor as the crowd watched; then it came out of him without hurting him further.

Amazed, the people exclaimed, "What authority and...

 

[After the attempt in Nazareth to kill him,] Jesus went to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and taught there in the synagogue every Sabbath day. There, too, the people were amazed at his teaching, for he spoke with authority.

—Luke 4:31-32 NLT

Key Thought​

There are at least three types of authority that people may have:

1. Some folks have authority by virtue of a position to which they've been appointed. Some use their position and authority wisely, while others misuse them...

 

When they heard [what Jesus said about Elijah's ministering to foreigners], the people in the synagogue were furious. Jumping up, they mobbed him and forced him to the edge of the hill on which the town was built. They intended to push him over the cliff, but he passed right through the crowd and went on his way.

—Luke 4:28-30 NLT

Key Thought​

In some church cultures, after a message is given, an invitation is offered for people to respond to that message. Well, Jesus got a...

 

[Jesus continued,] "Certainly there were many needy widows in Israel in Elijah's time, when the heavens were closed for three and a half years, and a severe famine devastated the land. Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them. He was sent instead to a foreigner — a widow of Zarephath in the land of Sidon. And many in Israel had leprosy in the time of the prophet Elisha, but the only one healed was Naaman, a Syrian."

—Luke 4:25-27 NLT

Key Thought​

God didn't love Israel to love...

 

Everyone spoke well of [Jesus] and was amazed by the gracious words that came from his lips. "How can this be?" they asked. "Isn't this ###'s son?"
Then he said, "You will undoubtedly quote me this proverb: 'Physician, heal yourself' — meaning, 'Do miracles here in your hometown like those you did in ###.' But I tell you the truth, no prophet is accepted in his own hometown."

—Luke 4:22-24 NLT

Key Thought​

In sports, teams play all season to have the home-court advantage in the...

 

When [Jesus] came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the Scriptures. The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written:

"The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the...

 

[After his temptations in the wilderness,] Jesus returned to Galilee, filled with the Holy Spirit's power. Reports about him spread quickly through the whole region. He taught regularly in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.

—Luke 4:14-15 NLT

Key Thought​

Jesus' example [1] reminds us that when we face down the devil's attacks, schemes, and temptations, we can emerge stronger with the Spirit's power more at work within us! While we don't like periods of trial, God can...

 

When the devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left him until the next opportunity came.

—Luke 4:13 NLT

Key Thought​

There is a haunting and ominous tone to Luke's summary of the devil's departure. While Jesus won this encounter, Luke wants us to know that the evil one will be lurking nearby for an opportune moment. Defeated this time, the awful deceiver will choose his time and his methods carefully. We know that ultimately the greatest test will occur in the Garden of...

 

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[Continuing his temptation of Jesus,] the devil took him to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, "If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say,

'He will order his angels to protect and guard you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won't even hurt your foot on a stone.'"

Jesus responded, "The Scriptures also say, 'You must not test the LORD your God.'"

—Luke 4:9-12 NLT

Key Thought​

The devil was baiting Jesus...

 

[Continuing his temptation of Jesus,] the devil took him up and revealed to him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. "I will give you the glory of these kingdoms and authority over them," the devil said, "because they are mine to give to anyone I please. I will give it all to you if you will worship me."

Jesus replied, "The Scriptures say, 'You must worship the LORD your God and serve only him.'"

—Luke 4:5-8 NLT

Key Thought​

These verses give us a great...