Christ’s Ministry Begins (Luke 4:1–21)

Christ in the Synagogue at Nazareth, Gerbrand van der Eeckhout (1621–1674)

Today, I’m going to give you a Bible reading. It’s a short passage. The events of Luke 4:1–21 take place after Jesus was baptised by John in the River Jordan and, more importantly, the Spirit of God descended on him as a dove. In that moment, Jesus, born the Son of God, became the Word incarnate. ‘Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. He ate nothing in those days. Afterward, when they were completed, he was hungry. The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread."

Jesus answered him, saying, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.'"

The devil, leading him up on a high mountain, showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. The devil said to him, "I will give you all this authority, and their glory, for it has been delivered to me; and I give it to whomever I want. If you therefore will worship before me, it will all be yours."

Jesus answered him, "Get behind me Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.'"

He led him to Jerusalem, and set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, cast yourself down from here, for it is written,

'He will put his angels in charge of you, to guard you;'

and,

'On their hands they will bear you up,

lest perhaps you dash your foot against a stone.'"

Jesus answering, said to him, "It has been said, 'You shall not tempt the Lord your God.'"

When the devil had completed every temptation, he departed from him until another time.

Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee, and news about him spread through all the surrounding area. He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.

He came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. He entered, as was his custom, into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. The book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. He opened the book, and found the place where it was written,

"The Spirit of the Lord is on me,

because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted,

to proclaim release to the captives,

recovering of sight to the blind,

to deliver those who are crushed,

and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord."

He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began to tell them, "Today, this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."'