Belief in Jesus…Your Responsibility
Jesus had just quoted Isaiah and stated that He had fulfilled that Scripture in the hearing of His hometown synagogue. (See Luke 4:17-21)
The people doubted Jesus’ words. How can we know this? Because:
(NASB) Luke 4:23-24 “And He said to them, ‘No doubt you will quote this proverb to Me, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we heard was done at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well;
24 And He said, ‘Truly I say to you, no prophet is welcome in his hometown.’”
What had Jesus done at Capernaum? Capernaum had become His headquarters town.
At Capernaum:
Jesus had taught in the synagogue (Mark 1:21)
Jesus had delivered a man from an unclean spirit (Mark 1:23-28)
Jesus had healed Peter’s sick mother-in-law (Mark 1:29-31)
Jesus had healed many who were ill with various diseases and had cast out many demons (Mark 1:32-34)
News of what Jesus had done in Capernaum was spread throughout Galilee. The people in His hometown had heard the news. Can’t you imagine the stories being passed around, filled with excitement, speculation, and even consternation?
Jesus knew that Nazareth had heard what He had done in Capernaum. And He also knew that ‘no prophet is welcome in his hometown.’
These people knew Jesus’ family; they had seen Him grow up…Jesus the Messiah? No way!
Because of the people’s unbelief, Jesus could not do many works in Nazareth.
(Matthew 13:54-58)
Jesus does not do His works of power (miracles) where there is no faith (belief) in Him. Each of us has been given free will by God our Creator. We choose to believe in the Living God…or not. It is your choice, it is my choice. No one else is responsible for your choices. No one! For any reason!
The people in Nazareth were also responsible to God…some came to believe in Jesus after His death and resurrection. One example is His half-brother James. They had grown up together in the same home and not until Jesus’ resurrection did James believe in Jesus as Messiah! After he believed, James became the leader of the followers of Christ in Jerusalem. What a turn around in his life…and all because of what he believed.
What about you? Has there been a turn around in your life because you, too, have chosen to believe in Jesus as your Savior, as your Redeemer and your God?
Belief in Jesus is your responsibility.