16 Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. He entered, as was his custom, into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 The book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. He opened the book, and found the place where it was written,

18 “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 heal the broken hearted,

to proclaim release to the captives,

recovering of sight to the blind,

to deliver those who are crushed,

19 and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

20 He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began to tell them, “Today, this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

22 All testified about him, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth, and they said, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”

23 He said to them, “Doubtless you will tell me this parable, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we have heard done at Capernaum, do also here in your hometown.’” 24 He said, “Most certainly I tell you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. 25 But truly I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up three years and six months, when a great famine came over all the land. 26 Elijah was sent to none of them, except to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27 There were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed, except Naaman, the Syrian.”

28 They were all filled with wrath in the synagogue, as they heard these things. 29 They rose up, threw him out of the city, and led him to the brow of the hill that their city was built on, that they might throw him off the cliff. 30 But he, passing through the middle of them, went his way.

Luke 4:16-30 - World English Bible

Luke 4 revealed the modus operandi of Jesus. He traveled throughout the region, proclaiming the Good News in towns during the week, preaching in the synagogues on the Sabbath. During his lifetime, the synagogue was a far more democratic institution than it is today; without ordained rabbis, any Jewish adult male could read and comment on a reading from Hebrew Scripture. As the local boy who made good, he returned to read from Isaiah 61:1-2. He commentary caught the attention of the Nazarenes. Whether Jesus referred to himself in the passage or his preaching, the audience reacted at first with awe, then with anger. How could his words fulfill Scripture? More to the point, how dare he make such a statement? Here, familiarity did lead to contempt. Wasn't this Joseph's son? How could this local boy make good? According to his reputation, he healed the sick. Why didn't he perform such mighty acts here?

Jesus ratcheted up the rhetoric. He quoted a saying, “Doctor, you heal.” This was not a command to turn the heal arts on himself but an imperative to heal others. In other word, if you can cure people, do it! In answer, he compared himself to the great prophets of the region, Elijah and Elisha. Even these messengers of YHWH withheld divine favor except for those in real need.

His attitude and comparison were too much for the assembly. At the sound of his answer, the crowd turned on him and attempted to throw him over a cliff, but he walked away.

Sometimes we pray to God, seeking a specific answer, only to be disappointed. Yet, who is in charge? Shouldn't we seek God's will, not our own?

Pray to realize God's will this day in your life.