Having preached in synagogues throughout Galilee, Jesus returned to Nazareth, His home town. We must remember that Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit, so He returned not to show off and tell the people look at me now, your little unimported carpenter! No, Jesus went back to Nazareth with a specific mission and as always, ‘He went in the Synagogue, as Was His custom’. And He stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him.

Unrolling it, He found the place where it was written: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because He has anointed me to preach the Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom to the prisoners and recovering of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’ (Luke 4: 14-19) This is a quotation from the prophecy of Isaiah 61: 1-2. All of them are facts, it happened just as Isaiah mentioned it about seven centuries before. I wonder how often Jesus heard it being read in the years He attended the synagogue? or how many times He read it Himself? Knowing that the day would come, and there He was, ready to amaze the congregation, for: ‘He rolled up the scroll, gave to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on Him, and He began by saying to them: Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.’ (Luke 4: 20-21) It had to happen just where he spent many years of His life, and what he continued saying ended up by upsetting the people that knew Him for so long, and yet, because of what He said, they sought to kill Him, they walked out towards the borders of a precipice and tried to push Him over; but He just walked right through the them and went on His way! I do not want to dwell on the details, but if you have a Bible read that whole chapter. Do not just read the Bible for the sake of it, dwell on it, meditate it, it is food for the spirit, so enjoy it!

I want you to note that Jesus, as a man, said very clearly to the congregation, that what happened to him was the work of the Holy Spirit, and that His ministry of deliverance was going to be an outflow of His anointing! Leaving Nazareth, He went to Capernaum, a town on the northern borders of the sea of Galilee, and on the sabbath He went to the synagogue and began to teach to the people. They: ‘Were amazed at His teaching because his message had authority’. This authority is part of this mighty anointing, seen and experiences by all you are called of the Lord and set apart for service! I have mentioned these passages of the Bible before, but each mention had a special context.

It was not long after that that Jesus started calling men to follow Him, it is written how He begun to call them; ‘After John (the Baptist) was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the Good News of God. The time has come, He said, “The Kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the Good News. As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me”, Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men”. At once they left their nets and followed Him. When they had gone a little farther, He saw James, son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed Him.’ (Mark 1: 14: 20) Jesus continued and: ‘As he walked through the country side He came upon Matthew, called then Levi, son of Alphaeus, a tax collector, “Follow me”, Jesus told him, and he got up, left the booth and followed Jesus. (Luke 5: 27) Came the time when He had quite a following, and women also that believed on Him, followed Him and His disciples and attended to them. Some pleasant and helpful attendants, especially that the band was going to increase in numbers. Women had a glorious part in the ministry of Christ and of His disciples. Why women were treated the way they were in the history of the church, I do not understand, but judgement day will bring everything to light!