Jesus' First Sermon

How would you react if someone came to your hometown and stood up and proclaimed that he was the fulfillment of scripture as read in Isaiah? Our reaction today probably wouldn't be too much different from the reaction 2,000 years ago in Nazareth after Jesus' first sermon.

Let's put ourselves in their shoes. What if someone you grew up with stood up in your hometown church and read:
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed,to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

 

Then, he calmly puts down his Bible and says:
"Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."
I would be the first to speak-up and say, "Isn't this the son of Joe the carpenter? Now young he thinks he is the messiah!"

 

Most of us wouldn't go to the extent of chasing the newly proclaimed messiah out-of-town and plotting to kill him by throwing him off of a cliff like the Nazarites did with Jesus. However, most church congregations at a minimum would run him out of their church. I would be the first to support this, because just as with the Jews, this newly proclaimed messiah goes against everything I have ever learned and believe in.

 

But, there is one major difference between a newly proclaimed messiah today and when Jesus proclaimed his fulfillment of scripture. Today, we know through the miracles and proof within Jesus' ministry that he was the real-deal; he is the true messiah.

Back when Jesus gave his first sermon and proclaimed fulfillment of the scriptures, the Jews believed that the messiah was still to come and were always on the look-out for the true messiah. In fact, Jews still to this day looking for the messiah to come.
It is sad to think that all the proof of the messiah is there right in front of them and they are still looking for signs of the messiah. All they need to do is look at the life and ministry of Jesus. What more could a messiah do to send a message to his people as Jesus did? Just think about all the miracles he did, all the good he did, all the love he gave; even unto death.

The problem is this, most Jews are not looking for a messiah that set up a kingdom in Heaven, but are looking for a messiah to set up and rule a kingdom on Earth. My message to the Jews and anyone who will listen is this kingdom on Earth will soon come. Jesus, will come back again with power and glory and rule for a thousand years.
But, if you wait until then to find your messiah. You will have waited to it's too late!

Please do not wait until the second coming of Jesus to finally believe in Jesus. You must soften your hearts and believe in the first coming now. If you refuse Jesus, your fate will be the same as Satan's.
I pray that you repent and ensure that your name is in the Book of Life now.
"Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." Revelation 20:14-15

by James Apple Jr.

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