The Seasoning: Temptation, Rejection, and the Authority of the Word in Luke 4

Green wood cannot be worked the same way as seasoned wood because it is full of moisture and will warp and crack as it dries. A good woodworker lets the wood sit through the seasons before cutting it and the waiting is not wasted but preparation.

Luke 4 opens with Jesus in the wilderness for forty days as a seasoning rather than a wasted period. He is tempted by the devil while hungry and alone but when he emerges he is ready for what comes next.

Jesus Temptation in the Wilderness

The devil presents three temptations targeting something real like hunger and power and proof. Turn stones to bread. Worship me and receive all the kingdoms of the world. Throw yourself from the temple and let the angels catch you. Jesus answers each one with scripture saying that man does not live by bread alone and that we should worship the Lord our God and serve him only and not put the Lord our God to the test.

I think about the pattern where Jesus did not argue from logic or emotion but quoted what had already been written. The word was his defense.

And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

Luke 4:4

The devil leaves him for a season and the temptation does not end permanently but Jesus has passed the test.

Why Did the People of Nazareth Reject Jesus

Jesus returns to Galilee in the power of the Spirit and enters the synagogue in Nazareth on the Sabbath day. He stands up to read and they hand him the book of Isaiah and he reads the passage about the Spirit of the Lord being upon him to preach the gospel to the poor and heal the brokenhearted.

He sits down and says that this day the scripture is fulfilled in their ears. At first they speak well of him and marvel at the gracious words but then they ask if he is not Josephs son and familiarity becomes a wall.

Jesus tells them that no prophet is accepted in his own country reminding them of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath and Elisha and Naaman the Syrian. Both were Gentiles who received blessings when Israel did not. The people become furious and drive him out of the city to throw him off a cliff but he passes through the midst of them and goes his way.

I think about the moment when admiration turned to violence which happened when Jesus told them that God grace was not limited to them. The people wanted a prophet who would bless them and curse their enemies but Jesus offered a kingdom that included everyone.

This connects to an earlier reflection about the manger and the temple in Luke 2. Jesus was recognized by Simeon and Anna but rejected by his own town and the pattern of acceptance and rejection begins early.

Meaning of Physician Heal Thyself

The people quote a proverb saying physician heal yourself because they want Jesus to prove himself by doing in Nazareth the miracles they have heard he did in Capernaum. They want a sign on demand but Jesus will not perform for an audience because his miracles are responses to faith rather than demonstrations for skeptics.

The Healing Ministry in Capernaum

Jesus goes to Capernaum and teaches on the Sabbath and the people are astonished because his word is with power. A man with an unclean spirit cries out recognizing Jesus as the Holy One of God and Jesus rebukes the spirit and casts it out.

He goes to Simons house and heals his mother-in-law of a fever and at sunset people bring all who are sick and he lays his hands on them and heals them. Devils come out crying that he is the Christ.

In the morning Jesus goes to a desert place to pray and the people search for him and try to keep him from leaving. He tells them he must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also and I think about the balance Jesus maintains. He heals the sick and casts out devils and then withdraws to pray because the public ministry is fueled by private communion.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Jesus use scripture to fight the devil?

Jesus demonstrated that the word of God is the ultimate authority for overcoming spiritual attacks. He placed the argument on the foundation of divine truth rather than personal opinion.

Why were the people of Nazareth angry about the widow and Naaman?

They believed the blessings of the prophets were their exclusive right. Jesus challenged their sense of spiritual entitlement by showing Gods grace reached Gentiles.

What does physician heal thyself mean?

It was a sarcastic proverb demanding that Jesus prove himself with miracles in his hometown. He refused to perform for skeptics.

How does Luke 4 show the difference between the devils power and Jesus power?

The devils power is based on deception and shortcuts. Jesus power is based on the Holy Ghost and submission to the Fathers will.

Closing

Seasoned wood holds its shape because it has been through the weather and Jesus came through the wilderness ready for everything that followed. The rejection at Nazareth did not stop him and the demand for signs did not move him. He passed through the crowd and continued his work because the seasoning had done what it needed to do.

— D.