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synagogue
As Jesus began His ministry, He went to his hometown of Nazareth and taught in the synagogue. His message was not received as He had hoped and went and taught at other places. In the modern city of Nazareth, a group of people have constructed a small village that has the "look and feel" of the First Century. This picture was made of the reconstructed synagogue. The synagogues that the early disciples met in were probably very similar to this.
What are you planning on doing better this new year? How about taking more time to read the Bible?
Near the modern city of Nazareth, a first century synagogue has been reconstructed. I have provided a picture of the inside of this structure with this post. Seeing buildings like this help us to better understand the passages when we read them.
When given the opportunity, Jesus took the time to read the scriptures. In Luke 4, we find an account when Jesus entered a synagogue in Nazareth and read from the prophet Isaiah.
So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
Look at the attached picture and try to imagine Jesus standing there with all of the people sitting around listening to him. It makes the passage from Luke 4 seem a little more real doesn't it?
Let me encourage you this year to strive to understand the scriptures more. I'll do my best to help you with that by providing information on many of the places in the Bible. Working together, we can encourage each other.
