^16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. ^17 The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

^18 "The Spirit of the Lord is on me,

because he has anointed me

to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners

and recovery of sight for the blind,

to release the oppressed,

^19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." ^

^20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, ^21 and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."

^22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. "Isn't this Joseph's son?" they asked.

^23 Jesus said to them, "Surely you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself! Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.'"

^24 "I tell you the truth," he continued, "no prophet is accepted in his hometown. ^25 I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah's time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. ^26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. ^27 And there were many in Israel with leprosy ^{ } in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed-only Naaman the Syrian."

^28 All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. ^29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff. ^30 But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.

Notice the response from those who knew Him best.  Isn't this Joseph's son, didn't he grow up here. Jesus said that a prophet is not accepted in his hometown.  Then because of two statements Jesus makes about foreigners who God really judges as believers, the Jews from Christ's own home town tried to kill Him by throwing off of a mountain called the Mountain of the precipice. But He walked through the crowd and went on His way.  Can you imagine people who had seen the Lord and knew His life rejecting Him so openly?  It reminds us again about our hearts always saying yes to Jesus. We saw that today in Nazareth and it was very moving and real.  The remainder of the day was filled with seeing sites like Mt Carmel where Elijah overcame the false prophets of baal. Then to the valley of Megiddo to see the ruins of some 26 different civilizations have stood and where the bible says the battle of Armageddon will be fought.  The valley contains major east, west and north, south roads. That have been known as the crossroads of the world.  Scripture tells us that it will play a role in the final battle that the Lord Jesus will bring ultimate victory.

The Highlight of the entire day took place near the Sea of Galilee on the Jordan River.  Several of our group took a step in the cold waters of the Jordan to recommitment their life to Jesus.  Even though we got there at dusk it was an incredible time and a joy just to be a small part of some Holy moments.  You would have been pleased to see many of the people that you know taking steps that will move them closer to the Lord.  Tomorrow we will spend time on the Sea of Galilee and visit the site of the Sermon on the Mount and the feeding of the five thousand.  It is one of the highlights of any trip to Israel.  Thanks for praying and thanks for taking this journey with us.

 ^a Isaiah 61:1,2

 ^b The Greek word was used for various diseases affecting the skin-not necessarily leprosy.