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In Nazareth, Jesus defined his mission by claiming that God was fulfilling the words of Isaiah 61:1-2 through Jesus’ healing, liberating actions. There he met rejection and anger. In Capernaum, on the other hand, the townspeople wanted him to stay there and be their local healer (verse 42). But Jesus steadfastly followed a course that he and God chose. He did not allow either human popularity or rejection to govern his actions.

• As you read about Jesus in the synagogue in Nazareth, what seems to have changed people’s reaction from verse 22, where they were "impressed by the gracious words flowing from his lips," to verse 28, where they were filled with murderous anger? In what ways did "This is Joseph’s son, isn’t it?" express doubt about Jesus’ messianic claim (cf. Mark 6:1-6)? In what ways did Jesus’ mission address both physical and spiritual bondage, poverty and blindness?
• Jesus was a supreme example of servant leadership, yet Luke said he also practiced good self-care (or, perhaps more accurately, soul care). In verse 42 today, and again in Luke 5:16 tomorrow, Luke said Jesus left the crowds to pray in solitary places. Solitude—just you and God—is hard for most of us. How could you create fifteen minutes of solitude each day by design? How might you occasionally find longer periods of solitude?