Entitlement–Or Grace?

We read yesterday how Jesus had come for the poor, imprisoned, blind and oppressed. He captivated his home-town audience with his graciousness. They must have been delighted that one of their own came to them promising these blessings–but then comes a startling change in their attitude. Jesus knew what people were thinking. Why didn’t he perform in Nazareth the miracles he had done in Capernaum?

The people of Nazareth had not grasped the hard truth that God’s mercy was not reserved for them or the Jews. It had never been. The Jews had been chosen as a people with a mission to be a light to the nations, the Gentiles (Isa. 42:6). They preferred to see themselves as the chosen people, period. The prophets had understood, and Jesus cites two examples. Elijah was sent to provide for a widow–in the land of Sidon (1 Kings 17:8-16). Elisha healed a leper–in Syria, and a military commander of the enemy at that (2 Kings 5:1-14). Jesus might also have cited Jonah, who was sent to preach repentance to the Ninevites and who wrestled with the implications. The Jews’ understanding of the Messiah was that he would come and rescue them from the hated Romans, not show mercy indiscriminately to Jews and Gentiles alike. They were looking for a Messiah who would bring down judgment on the Romans and reinstate them, the Jews, to a glorious political future. After making such a favorable impression in the beginning, Jesus enrages them at the end. They were ready to kill him for such blasphemy.

As we read on in Luke, we see Jesus carrying forward his mission, extending mercy to everyone. There was, and is, no entitlement to God’s grace. We also see how this episode is an ominous foreshadowing of exactly what would happen three years later.

When have you felt disappointed in God, like the people of Nazareth? Perhaps you felt he did not come through for you as you thought he should? What lessons did you learn from that experience? What lessons can you learn from this passage?