This is a simplified version of the Bible story found in Luke 4:16-30, written for children to understand. For the original version, please refer to the Bible passage.
Jesus went back to the town where He grew up, Nazareth. On the Sabbath day, He went to the synagogue. While He was there, they gave Him a scroll with the words of the prophet Isaiah on it. Jesus unrolled the scroll and found the place where He wanted to read.
It says, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
After reading, Jesus rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant. Everyone was looking at Him. He told them that what they just heard was fulfilled in their hearing that day.
People were amazed at His words and spoke well of Him. But then, they started to say, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”
Jesus knew what they were thinking, and He told them, “I know you’ll probably say this saying, ‘Physician, heal yourself.’ You want me to do the miracles here in my hometown that you heard I did in Capernaum. But let me tell you, no prophet is accepted in his own hometown. Even in the past, when the prophet Elijah was around, there were many widows in Israel who needed help during a famine, but Elijah was only sent to one widow in Zarephath, who was from another country. And during the time of the prophet Elisha, there were many lepers in Israel who needed to be healed, but only Naaman, who was also from another country, was healed.”
When the people heard these things, they became very angry. They even wanted to throw Jesus off a cliff! But Jesus was able to walk away from them without getting hurt.
Biblical Lessons
- Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promises, and His mission is to bring good news to the world.
- Jesus faced opposition and rejection during His ministry, but He remained faithful to God’s plan and continued to spread the message of salvation.
- It’s important to have an open mind and heart to what God is doing, even if it goes against our own expectations or ideas.
- Jesus’ teachings and miracles reveal who He is and what His mission is all about. We can trust in Him and follow His example of love and compassion towards others.
Related Stories
Jesus Calls the First Disciples
Must-Read Christian Books
Desiring God
Piper unpacks "Christian Hedonism": that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him, grounded in Scripture.
View on Amazon
The Cross of Christ
A profound exploration of the meaning and power of the cross at the center of Christian faith and life.
View on Amazon
Faith Alone
Defends justification by faith alone as the heart of the biblical gospel and Reformation.
View on Amazon
The God Who Is There
Shows how the God of the Bible speaks into modern philosophical and cultural confusion.
View on Amazon
Basic Christianity
A timeless introduction to who Jesus is and what it means to follow Him according to Scripture.
View on Amazon
Concise Theology
Short, Scripture-filled summaries of key doctrines, written with clarity and warmth.
View on Amazon
Just Do Something
A wise, biblical approach to knowing God's will without paralysis or mysticism.
View on Amazon
The Attributes of God
Devotional meditations on God's character that stir reverence and worship.
View on Amazon
Morning and Evening
Devotional readings for each day that point believers to Christ and His promises.
View on Amazon
The Westminster Shorter Catechism
Summarizes key doctrines of Scripture in concise questions and answers.
View on Amazon
Biblical Preaching
Introduces the "big idea" approach to expository sermons, rooted in the biblical text.
View on Amazon
Religious Affections
Examines the nature of true spiritual experience and the marks of genuine conversion.
View on Amazon
The Christian Life
A clear, doctrinally rich overview of salvation and Christian living.
View on Amazon
The Gospel and Personal Evangelism
Encourages and equips Christians to share the gospel faithfully and simply.
View on Amazon
Christian Mission in the Modern World
Clarifies key biblical concepts like evangelism, mission, and social action.
View on Amazon
Counterfeit Gods
Exposes modern idols of the heart and points to Christ as our true treasure.
View on Amazon
Shepherding a Child's Heart
Biblical parenting that aims at a child's heart, not just outward behavior.
View on Amazon