Then Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread throughout the entire vicinity. He was teaching in their synagogues, being praised by everyone. 4:14-15
It is fascinating to see Jesus’ ministry and his method for proclaiming the good news. Wherever He went, He always started with the “people of God.” Of course, we must use that term loosely because the Jews of His day were not much more righteous than anyone else. There were no churches in those days, but those who claimed to follow the God we follow met in synagogues and there are a few similarities. Jesus always started there and over and over we see this term “He was teaching in their synagogues.” In fact, in chapter 4 immediately after His temptation in the wilderness and the beginning of His ministry, this term is used at least four times in 3 different cities.
He began in Nazareth, His home town and His home synagogue where they knew Him. Yet, even though they knew Him they rejected Him. For years I thought they rejected Him because He claimed to be the Messiah and the fulfillment of prophecy. Yet, if you look closely at the text, after He says He has fulfilled the prophecy, “They were all speaking well of him and were amazed by the gracious words that came from his mouth.” It is not until He begins pushing on their insidious racism that they get angry with Him. He quotes two stories in the bible where God showed more favor to Gentiles than to Jews (the widow of Sidon and Naaman the Syrian leper) and they were so enraged that they tried to throw their hometown hero off of a cliff and kill him.
Later in the chapter, Jesus is in Capernaum, again, teaching in their synagogue on the Sabbath day and He has to drive a demon out of one of the members of the synagogue. Sometimes I am taken aback at the evil I find right among the people of God. Many times in Africa I have been preaching and had to deal with people who were manifesting demons right in the middle of the church service. Sometimes the place where you expect to find the greatest spiritual health and devotion is where people are the sickest. The chapter moves on with Jesus going from place to place, eventually to Judea, but always preaching in the synagogues. God’s people are far from perfect and there is no excuse for racism, demon possession, and any other kind of spiritual sickness but let’s not give up on His church; after all, Jesus said it’s the sick who need a doctor and not the healthy. That is where He always started and even today the church is who Jesus wants to use to take His message to the world.
