BIBLE STUDY LESSON 13

SERIES Q --- THE SAVIOUR

FIRST REJECTION

WHEN YESHUA CAME HOME

From John 4:43-45; Luke 4:14, 15

After Yeshua had stayed with the Samaritans for two days, He went on home to Galilee. Yeshua had told His disciples, [Almost everyone welcomes a prophet except his own people.] But that wasn’t the way it happened here, for the Galileans welcomed Yeshua back with open arms. They had seen His miracles in Jerusalem during the Passover and perhaps expected Him to continue performing them in Galilee. So Yeshua came back home to Galilee with the power of YHVH’s Spirit upon Him. The news of His Power spread throughout all that region, making Him famous among the people. He taught in the synagogues of Galilee and men praised Him for the things He said and did.

A RICH MAN’S SON

From John 4:46-54

Once again Yeshua returned to Cana in Galilee, where He had turned the water into wine. A government leader, who lived in Capernaum, heard that Yeshua had arrived from Judea and was now in Galilee. Immediately he went to Cana and begged Yeshua to come back to Capernaum with him to heal his dying son. [Will you believe Me now, or do you expect more miracles to prove what I can do?] Yeshua asked. But the man kept on begging. [I believe You,] he said. [Please come now or my son will die.] [You may go home this very moment,] Yeshua told him, [for your son is well.] The man believed Yeshua and started back toward Capernaum. The next day, when he was almost home, his servants came running to meet him. They brought the glad news that the man’s son was well. [What time did the sickness leave him?] the government leader asked. [Yesterday, about one o’clock in the afternoon!] the servants answered. The man realized that it was the very time when Yeshua had said, [Your son is well.] He also realized that Yeshua was the Moshiach, YHVH’s Son. This man and his entire household believed in Yeshua. This was the second miracle that Yeshua did after He returned to Galilee from Judea.

ANGRY NEIGHBORS

From Luke 4:16-31

While He was at home in Nazareth, Yeshua visited the synagogue, as He usually did on the Shabbat. When He stood up to read the Scriptures, the scroll containing the Book of Isaiah was given to Him. Yeshua opened the scroll to a certain place and began to read. [The Spirit of YHVH is upon me. He has given me the sacred work of preaching the Good News to the poor. He has sent me with a royal proclamation -- there is freedom for captives, sight for the blind, release for those in bondage, and YHVH’s favour for all who come to Him.] When He had read this, Yeshua closed the scroll, handed it to the attendant, and sat down. Every eye stared intently at Him as He prepared to speak. [Today you have seen and heard this Scripture come true as I read it to you,] He said. As Yeshua spoke, everyone praised Him for His beautiful speech. [Isn’t this Joseph’s son?] they asked. [How can He speak this well?] But Yeshua continued. [You will probably remind Me of the proverb, ‘Heal yourself, doctor!’ That is, show us the miracles here in Nazareth that You did in Capernaum I assure you that no prophet is ever welcome in his own home town. Let Me give you some examples. Do you remember the drought and famine that lasted three and a half years during the time of Elijah? There were many widows in Israel then, but Elijah was sent to a Gentile widow at Zarephath in Sidon, not to the widows in his neighbourhood. Or what about the lepers in the time of Elisha? Israel certainly had its share of them, but Elisha healed a Syrian Gentile named Naaman.] By this time, the mood had changed in the synagogue. The friends and neighbours rose up in a violent rage, pushed Him out of the synagogue, and forced Him out to the brow of a hill at the edge of town. It was their intention to throw Him over the hill to His death. But Yeshua made His way through the crowd and left them.

THE NEW HOME

From Matthew 4:13-16

After the crowds turned against Him in Nazareth, Yeshua went to live in Capernaum, a village beside the Sea of Galilee, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. Thus, Isaiah’s prophecy came true:

[Lands of Zebulun and Naphtali, beside the sea and beyond the Jordan River, in the region of Galilee where so many Gentiles live! Those who sat in darkness will see a great light. To those who live in the company of death, the Light of Life has come at last.

COMMENTARY

THE SYNAGOGUE

In Yeshua’ time, the synagogue was the most important building in any Jewish community. It served as school, church and town courthouse. On the Shabbat and on special holidays, it was the place where everyone gathered for worship. During the week, it was a school house for Jewish boys. It also functioned as a courtroom where the rabbis made their legal decisions. Because it was the centre of all community activities, the synagogue was usually the largest building. It was often built on the highest land so that it could be seen from all the houses in the area, and in turn look down over them. By Jewish Law, only ten men were needed to form a congregation. Called a {minion,} this is still the rule today. Then as now, it meant that all but the smallest villages could have their own synagogue. If a visitor arrived in time for the Shabbat, he might be asked to read from the Torah or give a sermon. It was considered an honour to do so. During the week, the synagogue was filled with the high voices of children reciting their lessons. It was basic to Jewish life that boys learn to read Hebrew Scriptures. Starting with simple verses, they went on to read from the scrolls of the Torah that were kept in a special cabinet in front of the synagogue. Learning the language of their ancestors was especially important, because it was one way to continue the ancient traditions in countries where Hebrew was not spoken. When lessons were not in progress, the rabbis debated questions concerning the Law of Moses. If someone had broken the law, they ordered punishment. The most common penalty was thirty-nine lashes. Only a very serious crime would result in a person being banned from the synagogue. The synagogue building was cared for under the watchful eyes of two highly respected men in the community, the ruler of the synagogue and the attendant. The ruler selected the men to read from the Torah at each service. He was also responsible for the building’s general condition. The attendant prepared the building for the Shabbat and special holidays. It was he who blew the shofar -- the trumpet made of a ram’s horn -- that announced the start of the services. He also had the important responsibility of removing the scrolls from their cabinet, giving them to the reader, and returning them to their place of honour.