The Acceptable Year

They were exceedingly astonished, saying to him, “Then who can be saved?” Mark 10: 26 (WEB)

As most of you know, Jesus was raised in Nazareth. The setting for the story takes place at the synagogue where Jesus has read the scrolls before “…as was His custom.” (Luke 4:16-30)

So, what was different this time? You will find the answer later in the devotion.

The disciples have asked Jesus a question that some people are still asking today. Many are afraid to ask it. Some think they already know it. Not all are correct in their belief.

The Bible tells us that unless the Holy Spirit (John 6:44) calls out to us, we won’t have the desire to be saved. Many don’t believe there is a lost or saved choice; they just believe they are good and that a good God will take them to Heaven when they die.

Who can be saved?

Until He calls us, we go on living according to the worldview. Lost, without Christ. But whom does He call?

Let’s look at an interaction that Jesus had with Jewish people from Nazareth. Luke 4:16-30

At first, everything was going well. Jesus prepared to read from the scroll of Isaiah 61. He was handed the scroll and began to read about Himself. Here is the text that He read from. (As recorded in the Gospel of Luke 4).

“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 heal the brokenhearted,
to proclaim release to the captives,
recovering of sight to the blind,
to deliver those who are crushed,
and to proclaim

The Acceptable Year of the Lord.”

Luke 4:18-19 (WEB)

The acceptable year of our Lord is the beginning of the age of God’s grace, which we still live in. The Bible tells us that now is the time of salvation and redemption for anyone who believes. But the people listening to Jesus that day didn’t even realize that the Messiah was right there with them.

Then Jesus read the passage. He was referring to Himself as the deliverer. This passage explains that the Messiah would come to provide salvation to Jews and Gentiles, alike. And it would be the least likely of people who would believe and accept Him. The scripture lists the poor, the broken hearted, the captives, the blind, and those who are crushed. He is speaking in a spiritual sense as well as a literal, physical sense.

When Jesus finished reading, He handed the scroll back to the attendant. Jesus sat down and surprised His listeners with this statement: Luke 4:20-21 “Today, this prophecy has been fulfilled.” In other words, Jesus was telling them, I Am the Messiah, and I am coming to offer the Gospel to the Gentiles.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me.”

Luke 4:22 describes the atmosphere in the room. All their eyes were fastened intently on Jesus. That’s the power of the Gospel. Even His enemies were amazed at His words. They were astonished. And Jesus knew their hearts.

Often, this passage is read out of context. Believers sometimes perceive this passage to mean the Jews are complimenting Jesus. The verse says that “…they wondered at what He said and that His words were “gracious”. Actually, their meaning was, “How could the uneducated son of Joseph the carpenter, speak with such clarity?” Their hearts were full of disdain and unbelief.

That is a sad hallmark of lost hearts. They hear the Gospel. And they swat away the effect of its truth like it is an annoying housefly. Some hearts are so seared over that they don’t even perceive that it is the Holy Spirit calling them to redemption.

So, Jesus helps us understand the duplicitous musings of these men. Click the verse linked below to see what they said to Him and how He responded. (Luke 4:23-24)

Jesus proceeded to remind them of two examples of unlikely people that were redeemed during the days of Elijah and Elisha. Both were Gentiles. The first, was a widow whose story is found in 1 Kings 17. The second was a Syrian general, Naaman. His story is found in 2 Kings 5. The Jews were angry because they believed that God would never have blessed the Gentiles, or other untouchables.

But God loves all people. Jesus came for every soul. Jesus came for the whole lost world, if you believe John 3:16-17. (Even if you think you know John 3:16 by heart, re-read these two verses together. Many people don’t know the pivotal verse of John 3:17).

The aggression of the offended Jews won’t be a surprise to you. Their evil hearts were fully displayed in the violent act that they had planned for Jesus that day.

Read Luke 4:28-30 to find out what they did with Jesus. How did Jesus respond? This is an example of evil men standing right in front of a miracle, but they never saw it.

I hope that you love learning more about our Savior. I do because I know Him better than I ever dreamed I would. Any time that I give up personal time to learn more about Him I am rewarded by a closer relationship with my Savior and Friend.

Now, at the beginning of the devotion I asked you a question. Do you remember? Here’s the answer:

Jesus had been baptized and the Holy Spirit filled Him with power. Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was** led by the Spirit into the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. Luke 4:1

When the devil had completed every temptation, he departed from him until another time. Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news about him spread through all the surrounding area. He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. Luke 4:13-15

For context regarding our key verse please read Mark 10:17-27

Share the Good News in your world!

Isaiah 52:7

World English Bible (WEB)

by Public Domain. The name “World English Bible” is trademarked.