Luke 4:16-21

Find a place and time free of distractions for the next 7-10 minutes. Take a moment to settle into your surroundings and then begin to recognize your breath. As you breathe in, call on the name of Jesus and become aware of his presence with you. As you breathe out, open your mind and heart to receive whatever Jesus has for you today.

Read Luke 4:16-21 picturing the events described in this passage.

If we start with the end of this passage, we can see that Jesus’ early years on earth were unremarkable - at least from the outside. But when he enters the temple as a thirty-year-old, he is recognized as a teacher and allowed the privilege of reading and expounding on the Scripture of the day.

At first, his amazing declaration evokes curiosity. And as he continues to speak, there is an unmistakable quality in his words that is markedly different from what the people are accustomed to hearing.

Stop for a moment to imagine hearing Jesus reading and explaining Old Testament Scripture to you. This is, in fact, an experience that is available to us through the Spirit of Jesus if we come in humility ready to hear from Jesus.

Take some time and consider asking Jesus to speak to you through another prophecy of Isaiah – Isaiah 43:1-4. You can use the guide below if it is helpful.

Quiet yourself before you read the passage. Then read it a first time noticing anything that stands out. Pause to reflect.

Read Isaiah 43:1-4 a second time noticing any emotions or feelings that arise in you as you read. Pause to reflect on what you experienced.

Read the passage a third time, and then take time to talk with Jesus about anything you thought or felt while delving into Isaiah’s prophecy.

Read Luke 4:16-21 again noticing the question that arises in the listeners.

When Jesus speaks to us through the Holy Spirit, there is a gracious quality to his words that lets us know that what we are “hearing” is coming from him and not just from our own minds. But as we have considered before, the voice of Jesus is generally a whisper that can easily be drowned out by our rational minds.

Jesus’ listeners in the temple recognized something extraordinary in his words, but rather than allow his message to sink in and give them life, they chose to listen to their own doubts and rational thoughts.

Get quiet for another moment and let all that you have heard from Jesus today sink into your spirit.

What might Jesus be inviting you to do or do differently today?

How will you respond?

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The Everyday Jesus Follower’s Guide ebook can help you learn how to recognize God's voice, how to read and understand the Bible, how to develop deep spiritual friendships, and how to become the person you were meant to be. Use it alone, with a friend or in a small group.