Jesus' Claim: Salvation vs. Spiritual Debt in Nazareth

Jesus challenges the notion of spiritual privilege, emphasizing the need for redemption and acceptance of salvation.

### The Rejection of Jesus: A Prophet's Struggle in Nazareth
* 📖 Jesus bar Joseph, once a student in Torah class, shares his recent journey and reads from the Scroll of the prophet Isaiah, proclaiming the **year of the Lord's favor**.
* 🕊 He emphasizes that his mission is to bring **good news to the poor** and **healing to the brokenhearted**, stating, "**This is the year of the Lord's favor**."
* 🔍 When questioned about his omission of the "day of vengeance," Jesus clarifies that he is focused on **salvation, not vengeance**, and aims to provide **release from spiritual debt** rather than financial burdens.
* 🤔 Despite being the chosen seed of Abraham, he warns that **without recognizing their own spiritual poverty**, they cannot receive his salvation, invoking the examples of a Gentile widow and Naaman, a Syrian leper, who both understood their **need for God**.
* ⚖ The crowd grows hostile, accusing him of **claiming to be the Messiah**, and Rabbi Benjamin asserts that such blasphemy must be **addressed according to the law of Moses**.
* 🚨 Jesus stands firm, stating, "**I am the law of Moses**," which escalates the tension and leads to a **death sentence being proclaimed against him** for his perceived false prophecies.
* 😢 The scene culminates in a moment of **despair for his supporters**, as they witness the **rejection and condemnation of Jesus** in his own hometown.

and now for the reading and interpretation we have this Jesus bar Joseph. He was one of my students in Torah class, and we've heard reports, some of them very positive, of his recent journey. Jesus, thank you, Rabbi Benjamin, please. Now it's not easy to share in front of Nazareth's most preeminent rabbi, but I will do my best, and I'm certain that if I miss a word or two, one of you at least will speak up, huh? Don't worry, I wonder who it will be. A reading from The Scroll of the prophet Isaiah. The spirit of the Lord God is upon me because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, proclaim liberty to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to the opening of the prison for those who are bound, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. The fulfillment of this scripture, as you have heard it, is today. This is the year of the Lord's

favor. This is a Year of Jubilee, a year the poor, the brokenhearted, the captive, and the blind are offered redemption. Here now, we are with you. Keep going. No bad for a carpenter's son, yes? I mean, especially Joseph. May he rest in peace. Jesus, please explain why you stopped the reading before Isaiah spoke of the day of vengeance of our God, especially during a time of such oppression. But day of vengeance is in the future. I'm not here for vengeance. I'm here for salvation. You're here for salvation? What are you saying? You know what I'm saying. And this Year of Jubilee, this year of the Lord's favor, is not about release from financial debts. I'm here to provide release from spiritual debt. We're the chosen seed of Abraham. We don't have spiritual debt. Jesus, yes, Adam. We've been hearing about the signs and wonders, and now this. Are you claiming to be more than a rabbi, more than even the baptizer? No doubt one of you will quote me.

with the proverb physician, heal yourself. The things we heard you did in Capernaum and in Syria do here in your hometown. Yes, why not? I get it. It's always easier to accept hard truth and even greatness from strangers than from those you know well, especially those you knew as awkward teenagers or even as adults. As some of you saw earlier today, last year would make a more believable prophet. But this brings up an important truth: no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. Be careful with what you call yourself. This should be easy to prove. Dina and Rafi, you say saw it? Yes, yes, yes, we saw it. But he did not claim this. The true prophet from Adonai would not deny his own people's signs and wonders. Listen carefully. When a Great Famine hit Israel during the Days of Elijah, 3 years and 6 months, there were many widows, yes, and we know how the father cares for his chosen people, especially widows. But Elijah was sent to none of them, not a one. Instead, he was sent to a widow in

siden in Zapat a gentile woman Martha. What happened? She gave up her last flour and oil for one more cake and gave it to Elijah. Why would she do that? Elijah told her the Lord said to do so. Yes, the Lord said that he would make it so that her flour and oil would never run out, and she believed. A pagan Gentile in a pagan land, and she was hungry enough to know she needed God and to obey him. And so God sent Elijah to multiply her food forever. What about Elisha and Naaman? There were many lepers in Israel during this time, but none of them were cleansed except Naaman, only a gentile Assyrian soldier, an enemy of the Lord's people. But he was so desperate, he trusted Elisha, and his leprosy was cleansed. You may be the chosen seed of Abraham, you may be the people of the covenants, but that will not bring you my salvation if you cannot accept that you are spiritually poor and captive in the

same way that a gentile woman and a Syrian leper recognize their need. If you do not realize that you need a year of the Lord's favor, then I cannot save you. Who do you think you are? This is what Hannah talked about. That he even called himself the Messiah. Are you claiming to be a messiah, or are you merely claiming to speak for the Lord as a prophet? Yes, you are a false prophet. W. That is quite a thing to say, Jesus. Maybe we should leave. You're his friend. You cannot be involved. You know what the law of Moses says. We are all his friends, Aaron. We cannot say things like this. Jesus, stand up at once. Rabbi, please, Rafi, come with Jesus and me. We will leave, and you can all continue the service. Rabbi Benjamin has asserted false prophecy, and I cannot argue. You said you saw the miracle. He's saying only he can save us. He did not use those words. It's what I meant, Jesus. You're not helping. Stop. He's saying we are not the holy ones chosen.

now he did not say that in words a book of Moses, but a prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak. That same Prophet shall die. Rabbi Benjamin, I beg of you, not this Lazarus. It's fine, Jesus. They're going to, yes, Jesus. If you do not renounce your words, we will have no choice but to follow the law of Moses. I am the law of Moses. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] oh [Music] Jesus bar Joseph. Because you have repeatedly prophesied falsely and have offered no denial or announcement of your Blasphemous claims, there is no need to escalate this to the authorities. Do you stand by all that you said? I think I was pretty clear. Your father, May rest in peace, was a righteous man. Your mother is a good woman. We take no pleasure in the shame you are bringing to their name, nor the grief this will bring upon Mary, but as from the law of Moses, whose

life and words you have spat upon today. Your sentence is death. [Music] Rafy. Rabbi Benjamin. This isn't going to happen. Not today. [Music]

I Am the Law of Moses (The Chosen Scene)

The Chosen

Jesus, a former student of Rabbi Benjamin, reads from the prophet Isaiah, proclaiming the year of the Lord's favor and offering redemption to the poor, brokenhearted, captives, and blind.

He emphasizes that his mission is not for vengeance but for salvation and spiritual release.

Jesus challenges the notion of the chosen seed of Abraham being free from spiritual debt, suggesting his role is greater than that of a rabbi or the baptizer.

The Challenge of Acceptance: A Prophet's Struggle

The proverb "physician, heal yourself" highlights the difficulty of accepting greatness from those we know well.

The speaker emphasizes that "no prophet is accepted in their hometown" and shares examples of Elijah and Elisha, who were sent to help Gentiles instead of their own people.

The message underscores the importance of recognizing one's spiritual poverty and the need for God's salvation, regardless of being part of the chosen people.

Jesus' Controversial Claims and the Reaction of His Peers

Jesus emphasizes the importance of recognizing one's need for salvation, challenging those who question his authority.

His claims of being the Messiah and his interpretation of the law of Moses lead to tension with others, who accuse him of false prophecy.

The situation escalates, with some feeling the need to confront Jesus and others urging him to leave to avoid further conflict.

The speaker expresses a sense of urgency and finality, stating that their sentence is death.

There is a mention of someone named Rafy and Rabbi Benjamin, indicating a confrontation or significant interaction.

The repeated phrase "This isn't going to happen.

" suggests a strong determination to prevent an impending event.