Week 34 Luke 4
The first two things that Luke reported about the adult Jesus were that a) he was baptized by John and that b) he was tempted by Satan. Then right away he began his public work in Galilee. One of his early stops was his own hometown – Nazareth.
Jesus was instinctively able to read-the-audience: I know what you’re going to say… ‘We heard of great happenings in Capernaum; do things like that here, in your own country!’
It’s hard to make sense of the comment without reading the same story in Matthew & Mark and getting an explanation…
Matthew: (Jesus) did not do many miracles there (Nazareth) because of their lack of faith
Mark: (Jesus) could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. He was amazed at their lack of faith.
So Jesus had done public miracles in Capernaum. But he couldn’t replicate them in Nazareth.
It’s something to keep in mind. It means if someone asked whether there was anything Jesus couldn’t do the answer would be: “Yes. For instance he couldn’t heal a person who wouldn’t believe he could”.
On the other hand I also think that – strictly speaking – the Lord could overpoweringly and irresistibly impose a miraculous physical cure on a sick guy who had no faith. But what would’ve been the point?
Note: the Nazareth story is in Luke 4:16-30. Quotes from Luke 4:23 (NTFE) and Matthew 13:58 & Mark 6:5-6 (NIV)