S – 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 proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed, ¹⁹ to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.^, 

²⁰ He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. And the eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on him. ²¹ He began by saying to them, “Today as you listen, this Scripture has been fulfilled.” 

Luke 4:18–21 CSB

O – Commentary:

Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing, the implication was clear. Jesus was claiming to be the Messiah who could bring the kingdom of God which had been promised for so long—but His First Advent was not His time for judgment. The crowd was fascinated at His teaching—The eyes of everyone … were fastened on Him (Luke 4:20). Jesus’ words plainly stated that the offer of the favorable year of the Lord (i.e., the kingdom time) was being made to them through Him (v. 21).

The people were amazed (ethaumazon, “wondered, marveled”; cf. comments on 2:18) at His gracious words (lit., “words of grace”), but they immediately began to question the authority with which He could say these things. How could Joseph’s Son—the Boy they saw grow up in their town—be the Messiah

 John A. Martin, “Luke,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 214.

A = The wait for the Messiah came to an end and they did not see it. It is understandable – Jesus grew up with them and he was just like them.  His familiarity lessened his impact.  We can fall into the same trap.  In the U.S., Christianity is so “available” – churches everywhere, bibles easy to get, etc.  Do we hunger for God because we desire to be in relationship with him or is it just convenient?

R – Heavenly Father, you are God and Jesus is the Messiah.  Develop a hunger in us for you as God.  It is easy to settle into what you do for us.  We want to know you intimately and with full transparency on our part.  Thank you for Jesus coming to earth and sacrificing for our sins so we can be in relationship with you.