Jesus Rejected at Nazareth

In the power of the Spirit, Jesus returns to Galilee. At Nazareth, where he was brought up, he goes into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and stands up to read from the book of the prophet Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor.” He sits down, with every eye fixed on him: “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” People marvel at his gracious words: “Is not this Joseph’s son?” Jesus replies that no prophet is accepted in his own country: Elijah was sent to a widow of Zarephath, and only Naaman the Syrian was cleansed in the time of Elisha. Filled with wrath, his hearers drive him out of the city and lead him to the brow of the hill to throw him off. But Jesus, passing through the midst of them, goes on his way.