They Love Jesus (Luke 22a)

Jesus is in his own hometown - in his family's synagogue.  He has just finished claiming to be the Messiah... the one who has come to release the captives, heal the blind, and free the oppressed. He has ushered in the forever year of Jubilee when debts and trespasses are forgiven. And for a short moment...

 ²² All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.

The hometown boy is back!  And they love him!  They have heard about his miracles.  He has rock star status!  And he thrills them with his gracious words.  If one of their hometown boys is great, then they must be great too.  Enjoy their enthusiasm while it lasts... because it won't last for long.  They are claiming to be on Jesus' side, but they haven't heard what he will say next.

So many of us are like this!  We haven't heard all that Jesus has to say before we offer our support.  We see part of Jesus - the part that supports us and our way of life.  The part that offers a ticket to heaven.  We see what makes us feel good - validates us.  But then when we hear all of Jesus' words... we change our tune.  Give away our belongings?  Forgive our enemies?  Love those who hurt us?  Seriously?  We can't believe this could be true so we recreate him in our own image instead of letting him transform us. 

Enjoy the few short seconds of hometown support for Jesus... because that is all there is going to be...

***** 

Other gospels report Jesus' short lived hometown popularity too:

Matthew 13:54 ⁵⁴ He came to his hometown and began to teach the people in their synagogue, so that they were astounded and said, "Where did this man get this wisdom and these deeds of power?

Mark 6:1-2 He left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. ² On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, "Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands!

John 7:14-16 ¹⁴ About the middle of the festival Jesus went up into the temple and began to teach. ¹⁵ The Jews were astonished at it, saying, "How does this man have such learning, when he has never been taught?" ¹⁶ Then Jesus answered them, "My teaching is not mine but his who sent me...