RBWords

         Jesus speaks these words in response to the reaction of his hometown synagogue to his preaching.  They could not believe that the guy they had known all his life could be the fulfillment of what all the prophets from of old had foretold.  He was, to them, getting above himself!!  Their skepticism kept him from doing "mighty deeds" in his own hometown!   The account of this event is more dramatic in the Gospel According to Luke.  There, Jesus confronts his audience with their lack of faith and they try to run him out of town! [Luke 4:14-30]   Imagine that a human lack of faith could prevent God from doing something!  Grace has to work hard to crack the hard-hearted and sometimes it just can't be done.  

     Perhaps the gospels are being too hard on the folks in Nazareth?  Even Jesus' own family was not enthused about his ministry! "When his relatives heard of this they set out to seize hi, for they said, 'He is out of his mind.'" [Mark 3:21].  The point of these accounts is to emphasize the rejection experienced by Jesus from the outset of his ministry.  Those who should have been able to recognize him were unable to do so because of cultural (hometown skepticism) or religious/political (scribes/Pharisees) blindnesses.  The poor and those considered "sinners" by others would be the ones who were open to Jesus' teaching and mighty deeds.

     A lot of things can harden the heart against Jesus' teaching.  Cultural, religious and political prejudices are stubborn obstacles to grace.  Some of these obstacles disguise themselves as patriotic/constitutional principles or even quote scripture in a way as to nullify the strength of Jesus' own words.  It takes honesty and effort to recognize ideas and prejudices within ourselves that block grace from working.  The prophetic voice is an uncomfortable voice but it may be the voice of God's grace knocking at the hard door of our hearts.  AMEN