ABSTRACT
The Christian gospel is embedded within complex histories of people and texts, and yet that itself is theologically relevant. Christians believe that in his crucifixion they recognize the very character of the God of the universe, who consistently subjects his Word to the vicissitudes of human history, not despite but because of God's greatness and grace. Jesus did not even announce the goals of his ministry in Luke 4, however, until he had first faced and rejected three temptations in the wilderness. The tempter's suggestion that Jesus turned stones into bread coincided with the option to promote his movement through a demagogic appeal to the lowest-common-denominator of populist self-interest. Jesus’ inaugural message at Nazareth also hinted at his intention to open the gospel and its promise of liberation to all nations. Jesus’ hearers in Nazareth were initially quite glad to hear the promise of justice, vindication, and "the year of the Lord's favor".
