RAP SHEET LUKE 4:22-30

SERIES: The Chosen King

SERMON: Great Expectations

SCRIPTURE: Luke 4:22–30

REVIEW

This week, we finished Jesus’ confrontation with His hometown in Nazareth. After Jesus read from Isaiah and claimed to be the fulfillment of the prophetic rescue promised in Scripture, the crowd initially responded with amazement. But that quickly shifted.

Luke says, “They were all speaking well of him… yet they said, ‘Isn’t this Joseph’s son?’”

Their familiarity with Jesus—His background, His occupation, His family—immediately shaped their expectations of who He could and could not be.

Jesus exposed those expectations by referencing an ancient proverb:

“Doctor, heal yourself.”

In other words:

“If you really are who you claim to be, prove it. Do miracles here the way you did in Capernaum.”

But Jesus does not perform signs to create faith—He performs signs to affirm faith.

He reminded them of two Old Testament stories (the widow in Sidon and Naaman the Syrian) to show that God’s grace goes where faith receives it, not where familiarity demands it.

The crowd’s expectations turned into anger, and their anger into action—they drove Jesus to a cliff intending to kill Him. But Jesus passed through the crowd and continued toward the greater mission ahead, ultimately choosing the cross rather than meeting their demands.

APPLY

This passage confronts how easily our own expectations can distort our view of Jesus. We all carry unspoken assumptions—about who Jesus should be, how He should act, and what He should do for us. Those expectations can shape our emotions, our trust, and even our obedience.

Take some time to reflect honestly:

• Where have your expectations of Jesus shaped how you respond to Him?

• Where might familiarity with Jesus—or with church—have caused you to overlook who He truly is?

• Where do unmet expectations create frustration, doubt, or distance in your spiritual life?

What is one specific expectation you need to surrender this week so you can see Jesus clearly and follow Him fully?

PRAY

Use these prompts to guide your prayer time:

• Ask God to reveal any expectations that are shaping your faith more than His Word is.

• Thank Jesus for being the King who refused to be controlled by the expectations of others.

• Invite the Holy Spirit to help you trust Jesus even when His plans differ from your preferences.

• Pray for the humility to lay down the expectation you identified and the faith to follow wherever He leads.

• Thank God that the Chosen King allowed Himself to be rejected so that we could be accepted by Him.