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Lesson 5: Jesus’s Galilean Ministry, Part 1 (Luke 4:14-5:11)
Jesus was about thirty years old at the beginning of His ministry (Luke 3:23). The apostle John records Jesus performing His first public miracle, traveling to Jerusalem, and then traveling back to Galilee (John 2-4). As Jesus came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed Him because of everything they had seen Him do during the Passover festival in Jerusalem (John 4:43-45).
Jesus’s Galilean Ministry Begins (Luke 4:14-15)
4:14-15. Jesus spent considerable time in Galilee during what is called His “Galilean Ministry.” He was working by the power of the Spirit and news about Him was spreading throughout the region (John 2:1-12; 4:43-45). Jesus is also pictured as going into the synagogues of the Jews (where God’s law would be read and taught) and teaching. At this point, Luke records that Jesus was being praised/glorified by everyone (Luke 4:22, 32; 5:1).
Jesus In Nazareth (Luke 4:16-30)
4:16-27. Jesus was now back in Nazareth, where He had grown up. It was His custom to go to the synagogue on the Sabbath. Jesus was allowed to read from the prophet Isaiah before the people. The place He read was a significant text concerning the Messiah (Isaiah 61:1-2), speaking of the Spirit of God being on this Anointed One (the term “Messiah” comes from). He would preach good news to the poor, release to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind, and freedom for the oppressed. Although Jesus would heal many, the greatest fulfillment of such would be the poor in spirit, captives of sin, spiritually blind, and oppressed by Satan (Hebrews 2:14-15; John 8:32; 9:39-41). Furthermore, He would proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor in that the time of God’s salvation had come (perhaps a reference to the Year of Jubilee, Leviticus 25:8-13)! After reading the scroll, everyone was focused on Him. He said the Scripture had been fulfilled that day (meaning, the Messiah was here and the time of God’s salvation was now)! Though the people were amazed by how He spoke, they only saw Him as Joseph’s Son and not as the Messiah (Mark 6:1-3). Jesus (after having performed miracles in Capernaum, John 4:46-53) anticipated them asking why He would do such things there but not in His hometown (like a doctor not healing himself). To this, Jesus responded that a prophet is not accepted or honored in his hometown (Matthew 13:57; Mark 6:4; John 4:44). Elijah and Elisha both demonstrated examples of how prophets went outside of Israel to perform signs in the cases Jesus mentioned (1 Kings 17:8-16; 2 Kings 5:1-19).
4:28-30. The people who once thought well of Jesus were now enraged at Him. Perhaps this was because they recognized He accused them of rejecting Him as God’s Prophet (the Messiah) or because He referred to God showing favor to Gentiles. Regardless, they drove Him out of town and intended to throw Him off a cliff. However, it was not time for Jesus to die (John 7:30; 8:20). So, He passed through the crowd and went on His way (note that no miracle is said to have happened in this).
Miracles In Capernaum (Luke 4:31-44).
4:31-37. Jesus went northeast from Nazareth to live in the Galilean town of Capernaum (fulfilling prophecy, Matthew 4:12-17). He would teach people in the synagogue on the Sabbath (with the people being astonished at His authoritative message, as one from God). Then, Jesus was encountered by a demon-possessed man. The demon recognized Jesus of Nazareth as the Holy One of God (James 2:19) and pleaded with Jesus to leave him alone and not destroy him (perhaps also the other demons, Luke 8:31; 2 Peter 2:4). Yet, Jesus rebuked the demon, commanded him to be silent, and commanded him to come out of the man! Amazingly, the demon obeyed (without hurting the man). Jesus’s power and authority (i.e. over the power of Satan) was recognized and news about Him spread throughout all the area and His fame grew.
4:38-44. Jesus left the synagogue and entered Simon Peter’s house (along with Andrew, James, and John, Mark 1:29-31), where Peter’s mother-in-law was sick with a fever. They requested Jesus to heal her – and He did! Immediately after Jesus rebuked the fever, it left her, and she got up and began to serve them. When the sun was setting, sick people and people with various diseases were brought to Jesus. When He laid hands on them, they were healed. Many who were demon-possessed also came to Jesus and He cast them out. Note that He rebuked the demons and would not let them speak because they were announcing Him as the Son of God and Messiah (perhaps He did not want them to announce Him as the Messiah or it was not yet time to broadly announce this). As the next day was beginning, Jesus went to a secluded place (and prayed, Mark 1:35). However, the people were searching for Him and tried to keep Him from leaving them. Yet, Jesus informed them that His mission involved preaching the good news of God’s kingdom to others also (as the Messiah would be King over an eternal kingdom, Psalm 2). So, Jesus went about preaching God’s word in various places throughout Judea (perhaps referring to all of Palestine, including Galilee; Matthew 4:23; Mark 1:39).
Jesus Calls Some To Be Disciples (Luke 5:1-11)
5:1-11. Jesus was teaching a crowd who were pressing in to hear Him alongside Lake Gennesaret (northwest corner of the Sea of Galilee). Jesus sought the use of Simon Peter’s boat along the shore and sat down in it, out from the land, to teach (perhaps giving space and an amphitheater effect). After Jesus’s teaching concluded, Jesus (a Carpenter) told Peter (a fisherman) to put the boat out into the deep water and let down the nets for a catch of fish. Although Peter and his companions had spent all night fishing without any catch, Peter acknowledged Jesus as Master and obeyed what He said (note they had previous interactions with Jesus but had not committed to following Him). The catch was so great that the nets began to tear, help was required, and the boats even began to sink! Peter fell to his knees before Jesus, acknowledging his sinfulness and unworthiness to be in Jesus’s holy presence (similar to Isaiah 6:1-7). Everyone who saw what happened was amazed (Andrew, James, and John were also present, Matthew 4:18-22)! Then, Jesus told Peter not to be afraid. In following Jesus, he would be fishing for and catching people for salvation. Peter, Andrew, James, and John all left everything (including their livelihood and family) and followed Jesus (Mark 1:16-20; 10:28-31)!
Conclusion
Jesus had begun His ministry throughout Galilee. We have seen Him perform miracles and His fame grow. However, we have also seen Jesus be rejected by the people of His hometown of Nazareth. Yet, there are now four men who have decided to follow Jesus as His disciples.
