Luke introduces the actual activity of Jesus’ ministry in this third major section of his Gospel. The section highlights Jesus’ activity and includes two major discourses by Jesus. One discourse shows how Jesus presents himself as the fulfillment of God’s promises, while the other reveals his ethical teaching. Miracles dominate the section. Luke focuses on who Jesus is in terms of his ministry’s aims and the extent of his authority. Jesus and his power gradually awaken faith within the disciples. Not all the section’s news is positive. The contrast between Jesus’ power and the growing rejection of him is the major tension in the story. This conflict is at the center of the plot of Luke’s Gospel: Jesus has great power, but many still reject him. Blindness is a strange phenomenon; sin yields a potent darkness. Both together mean that people often miss what God is doing. Nonetheless, be assured that God is with Jesus and will fulfill the promises made to and through Jesus.
In the midst of people’s rejection, there is also cosmic struggle as Jesus encounters hostile spiritual forces in 4:40-41. Jesus is always dealing with the reality behind the scenes of everyday life. The passage closes with reflection about Jesus’ mission in Luke 4:42-44. He must preach God’s kingdom. Jesus must explain how his rule and God’s promises come in stages and how he overcomes forces hostile to humanity and to God This short summary makes two simple points. First, Jesus is still led by the Spirit. Second, he is drawing attention to himself through his teaching.
God had promised the decisive demonstration of his salvation for his people for a long time. Now Jesus turns to declare the day has come; opportunity is present. But as in many great moments, questions arise. Is this really it? Have we moved from the days of promise to the time of the beginning of realization? Is God at work to fulfill his promise? Jesus’ synagogue declaration brings a moment of decision for those who hear his claims. A snapshot of his entire ministry flashes in this brief exchange. Jesus offers much, but the crowd questions what is on offer. In the tension of the contrast, Luke’s readers are left to choose sides.
For those looking to God for hope, Jesus was the answer. To respond to God, one must be open to him. For those in need of God, Jesus has a message of good news. Luke loves to emphasize that a potential audience for this message can be found among the poor. His social concern expresses itself fully through the details of what Jesus said at the synagogue–details the other Gospels lack. But this social concern is concerned with spiritual realities, not political ideologies.
In sum, Jesus makes three points: (1) Jesus is anointed with the Spirit. (2) He is the prophet of fulfillment who declares good news. (3) Jesus is the one who brings release as well as the one who proclaims it. He is Messiah. In short, this is the beginning of the fulfillment of God’s promise, and Jesus is the source of that fulfillment. This is why Jesus has been sent. The content of this kingdom message is seen in what Luke has already supplied: Jesus fulfills the promise. When John the Baptist raises the question again later, Jesus’ answer points to such fulfillment. Jesus does not proclaim who he is; he lets events explain who he is. For him, actions speak louder than words. He is more than an ethical instructor or a psychologist; he has power to overcome the forces of evil that plague humanity. His ministry is not designed for a little corner, but it extends far and wide to take the message out to others. So Jesus takes his message and ministry to the other synagogues of Galilee.