Have You Heard Jesus?

Jesus is in Capernaum preaching in the synagogues. The people are all abuzz. “Have you heard Jesus preach? He preaches as one with authority!

Jesus has officially moved to the city by the sea; Capernaum. He is going about the region teaching in the synagogues. His cousin, John the Baptist, is arrested shortly after He returns from His time in the wilderness. The message has moved from ‘prepare the way’ to ‘the Kingdom has come’. And this is just the beginning! Signs and wonders follow Him, and the people follow after them.

I am going to endeavor to tell a well rounded story. I want to be at Jesus’ side as well as in the crowds and the homes of the people. I have no idea how this is going to flow together and work out, but I will leave that part to the Spirit. I plan on doing this for the rest of Jesus’ life, as He didn’t live it in isolation.

Let’s rejoin the story as Jesus begins His ministry. Holy Spirit, PLEASE guide this journey! I don’t know how to do this on my own. I don’t WANT to do this alone! I need Your hand on the direction to look, what to leave by the wayside, and what lessons to gather along the way. Make this story come alive. Bring it off the page and into the imaginations and hearts of those who read it. So they can see Jesus more fully and LOVE Him as I do.

♥ ♦ ♥

It is early morning and the sound of soldiers’ feet draws John the Baptist’s attention. He is preparing for the day. He is excited to be so close to his Savior. To be sharing the ‘spotlight’ with Him and calling people to repent and turn to Him.

Anyone in Galilee is used to hearing soldiers marching through the streets. The Romans keep a tight reign on the people and they use fear as their main weapon. John stops to watch the soldiers, wondering where they are going and what their mission is. He is not afraid of them but he knows not to antagonize them.

As John stands watching, the soldiers march right up to him. The commander halts the column and steps forward to speak to John. Two men form up on him, one on each side.

“Herod has ordered you arrested. You will come with me, now, or you will be bound in chains and dragged away like an animal.”

John nods his head. He knew there would be repercussions for calling out Herod. But he could not stay silent. “I will go with you. There is no need for chains.”

The two soldiers standing beside the commander each grab one of John’s arms. “Just taking precautions, in case you decide to try and run away” the commander says with a sneer.

John doesn’t struggle. He walks with his head held high, as he refuses to cower before these men. Walking between the two soldiers, John is taken to the place of Herod. Herod stands in the courtyard as John approaches.

Herod doesn’t really want to imprison John, but Herodias won’t have it any other way. He watches John’s approach. He notices his posture and his refusal to act humble. “Maybe he needs a lesson in the dungeon after all” thinks Herod.

John is brought to stand before him. “Kneel Baptizer” the commander barks.

John is slow to kneel and the commander shoves him to the ground. John waits where he is.

Herod smiles. “It looks like you are the one who is being judged; not me. You will be imprisoned until you repent of your ways and apologize publicly to Herodias.”

John shakes his head. “Man may judge me, but God will judge you. I will not recant, even to save my own life. I must speak the truth and your marriage to your brother’s wife is a sin.”

Herod’s face goes red. He expected John to recant, or at least grovel. He does neither. “Take him to the dungeon and throw him in the deepest cell!”

John is dragged away. His disciples had followed from afar, wanting to know his fate. They try to comfort one another as John is dragged away. “We will find a way to free him.”

“Perhaps they will allow us to at least visit him.”

Time will tell. For now all they can do is wait and pray.

After their return from Jerusalem and baptizing along the Jordan, Jesus knows it’s time to step it up. He calls all His disciples together. “It is time really get down to work. I will be preaching in the synagogues every opportunity I can get. And we will see where the Spirit takes us from there.”

His disciples aren’t sure what He means by the last part, but they will follow wherever He leads. When the Sabbath arrives, Jesus leads them to the synagogue. As Jesus enters, one of the leaders, who had been at the wedding in Canaan, approaches Jesus.

“Would You do us the honor of reading the Torah today?”

“I would be most honored to do so.”

The service starts and Jesus is invited to read from the Torah. Jesus takes His place behind the table holding the scroll. He passes His hand lovingly over the words of His Abba.

Jesus’ voice rises and falls with the cadence of the passage. Everyone is silent, listening to the words as though they were some great symphony. Once He finishes the passage, Jesus closes the scroll and begins to speak about the reading.

The people hang on Jesus’ words like a lifeline. He speaks with wisdom and authority, never stumbling in His words. Not a single person fails to grasp the meaning of the text or the richness of the explanation.

After the service breaks up, people can’t stop talking about the experience.

“He speaks as one with great authority.”

“Did you notice that even the scribes were leaned forward, listening?”

“As they should be. I have never heard anyone like Him.”

A month after Jesus begins ministering in the synagogues, something special happens. He is still being asked to read and expound on the scriptures every time He attends. Today, as He is reading the scriptures, a commotion breaks out. A man in the center of the room stands up and begins shouting.

“What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God” (Mark 1:24).

“Be silent, and come out of him!” (Mark 1:25) Jesus commands.

The man begins to convulse violently, but it only lasts a moment. When the shaking stops, his face becomes calm and his hands relax their grip. His eyes are clear and he shouts praises to the Lord. “I was bound but now I’m free! My heart and mind were in chains. They lie broken and shattered at His feet.”

Those around the man knew of his bondage. They watch him with astonishment. Whispers begin making their way through the room. They build in volume in time with the people’s excitement.

“What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him” (Mark 1:27).

Jesus’ disciples are as amazed as the rest of the people. “He truly is the Messiah” they tell one another.

“Why do you think He told the man to be quiet? Shouldn’t He have let it be proclaimed?”

“Maybe it was because He knew it was a demon saying these things and He wants not praise from demons.”

“Maybe He was just trying to help the man; to free him from the spirit that had him bound.”

None of the disciples directly asked Jesus this question. If they had, they might have heard Him answer; “It’s not time yet for this to be proclaimed. The people need time to learn this on their own.”

The events of this day are talked about in every corner of the city and begin spilling into the countryside. Jesus is famous in a matter of days. People begin coming to Him to heal their diseases, both spiritual and physical.

Before long, Jesus can’t walk down the streets without someone approaching Him and asking for His hand of healing. Jesus meets the needs of all those who come to Him. And His fame continues to spread.

Jesus decides that it is time to make an appearance in His home town. He wants to see His ima and minister to as many of the people as He can. He knows it won’t be easy, as they have seen him ‘grow up’ and are not going to easily believe His words. But they will be the first to hear His claim of being the Messiah.

Jesus and His disciples start out early on the first day of the week, on their way to Nazareth.

“I’ve never been to Nazareth” Philip states.

“It’s a town just like any other” Simon chimes in.

“I don’t know about that” offers Nathaniel. “It’s said that Nazareth is a rough place to grow up. ‘Nothing good comes out of Nazareth’.”

“They are just like any other town” Jesus replies. “They put their sandals on, one foot at a time. And there are good and bad people in Nazareth, just like everywhere else.”

That ended that debate, but the topic of what to expect goes on.

“Will we need to find an inn?”

“No. My ima should have plenty of room.”

“What is Your family like?”

“Probably a lot like any of yours. My abba passed some time ago though. My brothers support our family. That was My place until they became old enough to take over. My sisters are both married and have children of their own. My brothers have wives and children as well, except for the youngest. I expect he will find a wife to suit him; eventually.”

“My wife and I are trying to have children, but…” says Simon. He doesn’t finish the sentence.

Jesus puts His hand on Simon’s shoulder. “In time, you will have children. For now, it is better this way.”

Jesus and His disciples arrive in Nazareth near the end of the week. It took four days for them to make the journey. They had many good discussions along the way; including lessons Jesus taught them from scriptures. No place was ‘out of bounds’ when it came to teaching.

Mary is surprised to see Jesus come walking through the gate.

“Ima, I hope you don’t mind that I came home for a visit, and brought a few friends with Me.”

“You are always welcome. This is Your home, after all. And I welcome Your friends!”

Mary sets an excellent meal before Jesus and His disciples. She keeps refilling plates and glasses long into the night. Jesus finally calls a halt to the festivities.

“We must allow My ima some rest. And we need rest as well, after a long walk.”

The men apologize to Mary for keeping her working so late in the night.

“It was my pleasure” she replies.

Mary points everyone to the garden for sleep. “It is a warm night, and my home won’t quite hold you all. Please, make yourselves beds in the garden. The stars are beautiful tonight.”

The disciples and Jesus all settle down for a restful night’s sleep. When morning comes, Jesus is ready to start planning their visit to the synagogue.

“I want to read a certain passage in the synagogue this Sabbath. It is one that is important for the people of My hometown to hear.”

“I’m certain that You will be asked to read, but the rabi selects the passage” Mary reminds Him.

Jesus has a knowing smile and nods His head. He knows that His Abba will make certain that the passage He needs is chosen by man.

When the day arrives, Jesus is indeed asked to read. As he steps behind the table, He sees that words of Isaiah have been laid out on the table for Him to read from. Jesus quickly scans the text before Him and locates it with ease. He begins reading in a clear and commanding voice.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (Luke 4:18-19).

Jesus looks up at the people around the room. He rolls the scroll back up and gives it to the attendant. He looks out at the people again and says; “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21).

The people in attendance are proud of their small-town Boy making good. They are impressed with His speech and His bearing.

“Is this not Joseph’s Son?”

“Look how well He turned out. His abba would be proud of Him.”

Heads nod around the room; for a little while. Then Jesus continues. “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘“Physician, heal yourself.” What we have heard you did at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.’” And he said, “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land, and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian” (Luke 4:23-27).

The faces of the people begin to darken with anger. “Who does He think He is?” “He thinks we are ‘unworthy’ of His ‘gifts’!” “We don’t need Him! He is nothing but a blowhard. He probably started the rumors Himself of all His ‘great miracles’.”

The people are very angry. Not only is Jesus not teaching like they want, but they come to the conclusion that He will start speaking ill of Nazareth or shame them with His antics. They cannot let this happen!

Jesus is seized in the synagogue and dragged from the building. Jesus isn’t resisting their hands. They near a precipice with Jesus in tow. His disciples are terrified! They fully believe that the people are going to throw Jesus from this height. And that is exactly what is in the hearts of the people.

While the group prepares to push Jesus from the height, He slips right through their hands and walks through the crowd without anyone noticing Him. His disciples see Him when He emerges from the crowd. They gather all around Him as He leads them away from the people. “It’s time to leave. I am not welcome here.”

Jesus and His disciples make their way to Mary’s home. They can’t leave for Capernaum until the morning, as it is the Sabbath. Mary greets them at the gate. “I have a meal waiting for you all. Come and rest from such an upsetting day.”

“Are My brothers and sisters joining us” Jesus asks.

Mary bows her head. “They declined. They are upset with what happened today. They have a hard time with the words You spoke.”

“And, you, Ima. Do you have a hard time with My words?”

Mary lifts her eyes to Jesus. “I know You. I know who You are. There is nothing You said today that I did not already know.”

Jesus smiles at His ima. She is a precious gift from His Abba.

As Jesus and His disciples are leaving for Capernaum, a few people come to Him asking Him to heal them. They apologize profusely for the way Jesus was treated. Jesus heals each of them and sends them back to town. “You will be my witnesses in the uttermost parts of the earth.”

(to be continued)

Jesus has made Himself known. I don’t know if the incident with the man with the demon was Jesus’ first truly public act. I thought about putting a street encounter in, but after reading about how His fame spread after the spirit fled, I figured it might have been the first act.

There is such a contrast between the two cities. Jesus is a ‘good boy’ from Nazareth, but when He gets ‘too big for His britches’ the people are incensed! They think Jesus believes He is too good for them. But what He is really saying is that, they can’t see past the boy who grew up in their midst. They have no faith in who He really is. THEY limit His work; not Him.

I wonder if people who knew me when I was younger will have trouble hearing the stories I’m sharing. I know that I can’t talk to my children like I can with other people. They saw my faults, failures, and successes as they were growing up. They have ‘faith’ in me in some areas, but I wasn’t able to provide the FIRM foundation they really needed.

I was just thinking about that issue and the difference between how my children are and how my husband’s children are. His children are both committed to following the Lord, while mine are not. His children had a troubled upbringing. They were ‘rescued’ from several bad relationships that they were dragged into. I was a single parent and refused to bring anyone into their lives when they were young. Did the instability make my husband’s children reach out for stability in the Lord? My kids’ lives weren’t ‘roses and sunshine’ but they clung to me as I clung to the Lord. Was that the difference? Just thinking about it.

I KNOW they saw my weaknesses. Did they believe that, “If mom has trouble and she is a Christian, what hope is there in God?”

PLEASE Father God! Don’t let that be the case!!! Don’t let my failures be the reason they turned away from You! Bring them back. Show them that You LOVE broken people. That NO ONE can stand without You. Let my failures be beacons as they see that YOU have carried me through those dark places. That being broken isn’t the end.