Recognizing the Savior - He reaches out to many others

Luke 4 - The Savior reads in a synagogue a prophecy from Isaiah about himself. He then says that He is fulfilling the words of the prophecy. This definitely made people question whether they believed that could be true or not. Jesus responds to their disbelief (they said, 'is not this Joseph's son?) by explaining that oftentimes the prophets of the Old Testament would bless the lives of those who were not "Jews" even though many Jews could have benefited from the same blessings.

Here's the verses:

22 And all bare him witness, and ^awondered at the ^bgraciouswords which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this^cJoseph’s son?

23 And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in ^aCapernaum, ^bdo also here in thy country.

24 And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is ^aaccepted in his own country.

25 But I tell you of a truth, many ^awidows were in Israel in the days of ^bElias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land;

26 But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a cityof Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.

27 And many ^alepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was ^bcleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.

Jesus explains to them that just because they didn't see the miracles prophesied of, they shouldn't assume that Jesus wasn't the Son of God. The prophecy was the following:

18 The ^aSpirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath ^banointed me to ^cpreach the ^dgospel to the ^epoor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to ^fpreach ^gdeliverance to the ^hcaptives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at ⁱliberty them that are bruised,

19 ^aTo preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

Jesus' point was that they shouldn't assume that just because they didn't see the healings mentioned in this verse, Jesus isn't the Christ. He healed many others but not those in his home town because they didn't have faith in him. However, this isn't him trying to fool them. Prophets such as Elijah and Elisha (both mentioned in the verses in Luke with different names) healed not those in close proximity with problems but those who had enough faith to receive the blessings, such as Naaman and the widow of Sarepta.

I appreciate God is willing to bless the lives of those who come to Him and have faith, not just those who are close in proximity. Also, it's up to us to recognize the Prophets and the Savior.

Have a great day.

Explaining why more people didn't recognize Jesus as the Savior - Matthew 13

Matthew 13 is a chapter with many of the parables of the Savior. In Matthew 12, Matthew explains that the Jewish leaders didn't accept Jesus largely because they were looking for the wrong things. In Matthew 13, he continues to explain that many people didn't recognize Him because they didn't have the right perspective and attitudes. In fact, Jesus taught through many parables that only some would find and accept the Gospel and that it would be a long process for some. However, those that did accept would give up much to be a part of it and would bring forth good fruit.

The parable of the 4 types of soil, the pearl of great price, the wheat and the tares, the mustard seed, the leavened bread, the field with the treasure all help show why it's not obvious to the people of the earth what the kingdom of God is unless they have the right attitudes and are looking for it. Further, in teaching with parables, Jesus was fulfilling prophecy as written in the Psalms 78:2

I will open my mouth in a parable:

This was not the first time the Jews would not hear the great teachers. Jeremiah also taught of this in Jeremiah 5: Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not:

Interestingly, it was a short time after Jeremiah spoke that Jerusalem was destroyed the first time and this happened again after Jesus' death as well.

The people didn't recognize the Savior because of their own blindness but not because it wouldn't be obvious if they chose to follow him and exercise faith. In our time, the same issue exists.

Just as Matthew wrote his book to help others come to Christ, please find the time to follow the Prophet of our day as they will also point to Christ. Some will not recognize Christ as the Savior or his Prophet as His servant, but that isn't evidence that they aren't chosen of God.

Matthew 11 - Why more people didn't recognize Jesus' divinity

Matthew 11 seems to be a point when Matthew gives multiple examples of people needing help to recognize Jesus' divinity or not recognizing it at all. It appears that he's trying to answer the question: If Jesus was the Savior, why didn't more people know it? Here's some answers.

1) You recognize John as a great prophet and John took some time to recognize Jesus was the Christ even after the baptism experience. However, John's role was to prepare people for me. Here's some verses from Matthew 11:

2 Now when ^aJohn had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,

3 And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?

4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those ^athings which ye do hear and see:

5 The ^ablind receive their ^bsight, and the lame walk, the ^clepersare cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the^dpoor have the gospel preached to them.

Then Jesus points out how bad the people are at recognizing prophets and God's work. He compares them to children who just don't understand what's going on:

16 ¶But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,

17 And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.

18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.

19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and ^aa winebibber, a friend of ^bpublicansand sinners. But wisdom is justified ^cof her children.

Jesus also addresses the issue of more people towns not recognizing He is the Savior. It wasn't for a lack of miracles:

21 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have ^arepented long ago in sackcloth and ^bashes.

22 But I say unto you, It shall be more ^atolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.

23 And thou, Capernaum, which art ^aexalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to ^bhell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.

24 But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of ^aSodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.

And finally, Jesus explains why it's wise that many people weren't easily convinced that he is the Savior. The "wise and prudent" couldn't recognize His works as the works of God, but the "babes" who are more humble and not influenced too much by what they expected to see in a Savior do see Jesus as the Son of God. These then benefit from Jesus' help:

25 ¶At that time Jesus answered and said, I ^athank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast ^bhid these things from the wise and ^cprudent, and hast ^drevealed them unto^ebabes.

26 Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.

27 All ^athings are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither ^bknoweth any man the Father, save the Son, ^cand he to whomsoever the Son will ^drevealhim.

28 ¶^aCome unto me, all ye that ^blabour and are heavy laden, and I will give you ^crest.

29 Take my ^ayoke upon you, and ^blearn of me; for I am ^cmeek and^dlowly in ^eheart: and ye shall find ^frest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is ^aeasy, and my burden is light.

I appreciate Matthew's explanations about why some didn't see Jesus as the Savior. It appears he systematically brings up many points explaining how Jesus is the Savior.