Tools of the Trade

coolIt’s a brave new world. In the past a doctor would make house calls to tend to the sick and needy. Jesus didn’t carry a little black medical bag with instruments and bandages, but he did make house calls and sometimes healed the sick—long distance! One day early in His ministry, He was traveling through Nazareth and stopped at the Synagogue. He read a passage from the scroll of Isaiah 61:1-2 and then sat down. He only read 80% of the passage, because the other 20% dealt with His second coming and wasn’t relative to the moment. The Bible says, the eyes of everyone in the Synagogue were on Him, and they all spoke well of Him.

Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to me: Physician, heal yourself!” Luke 4:23 

Jesus was a traveling evangelist. He was known by all as that prophet who put those uppity Pharisees and Sadducees in their place, healed the sick and infirmed, raised the dead, and gave the people hope and comfort. Jesus loved the people of his country deeply. He once made the comment:

“No prophet is accepted in his hometown.” Luke 4:24

The day Jesus was crucified there was a crowd gathered at the foot of the cross. The people present couldn’t understand how such a promising life could end so horribly. How could such a good man suffer such injustice! Luke records at the cross that day the comments some people made:

The people and the rulers said: “He saved others, let him save himself.” The soldiers said: “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” The criminal said: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” Does this remind you of anything?!