Good and Evil Angels During Christ’s Ministry
129
Rejection at Nazareth
During His childhood and youth, Jesus had worshiped among
His brethren in the synagogue at Nazareth. Since the opening of His
ministry He had been absent from them, but they had not been ignorant
of what had befallen Him. As He again appeared among them, their
interest and expectation were excited to the highest pitch....
When a rabbi was present at the synagogue, he was expected to
deliver the sermon, and any Israelite might give the reading from the
prophets. Upon this Sabbath Jesus was requested to take part in the
service. He “stood up to read. And there was delivered unto Him a
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roll of the prophet Isaiah.”
Luke 4:16, 17
, R.V., margin....
Jesus stood before the people as a living expositor of the prophecies
concerning Himself. Explaining the words He had read, He spoke of
the Messiah as a reliever of the oppressed, a liberator of captives, a
healer of the afflicted, restoring sight to the blind, and revealing to
the world the light of truth.... As their hearts were moved upon by
the Holy Spirit, they responded with fervent amens and praises to the
Lord.—
The Desire of Ages, 236, 237
.
The Spirit witnessed so powerfully to His [Christ’s] claims that
the hearts of all who were in the synagogue responded to the gracious
words that proceeded from His lips. Here was the turning point with
that company. As Christ’s divinity flashed through humanity, their
spiritual sight was quickened. A new power of discernment and ap-
preciation came upon them, and the conviction was almost irresistible
that Jesus was the Son of God. But Satan was at hand to arouse doubts,
unbelief, and pride.—
The Signs of the Times, September 14, 1882
.
When Jesus announced, “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your
ears,” they were suddenly recalled to think of themselves, and of the
claims of Him who had been addressing them.—
The Desire of Ages,
237
.
Who is this Jesus? they questioned. He who had claimed for
Himself the glory of the Messiah was the son of a carpenter, and had
worked at His trade with His father Joseph.... Although His life had
been spotless, they would not believe that He was the Promised One....
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As they opened the door to doubt, their hearts became so much the
harder for having been momentarily softened. Satan was determined
that blind eyes should not that day be opened, nor souls bound in