Luke 4:14-44.  Having endured his wilderness experience and overcome the devil’s temptation, Jesus returned to Galilee, and began his prophetic ministry.  His tactic appears clear: he would heal the sick and deliver people from demonic bondage during the week, and teach about the kingdom of God, but he would not reveal his “secret identity” except during his preaching in the synagogues.  The demonstrations of the power of the Holy Spirit were intended to draw people to the word.

When the people of Nazareth wanted to see a demonstration of Jesus’ miraculous power within the synagogue, he refused.  They tried to kill him, but he just went away.  People wanted him to settle in one place, but his purpose was to share the word, and that meant traveling to the “other towns.”  The good news of the kingdom of God had to be proclaimed.

LORD, as we proclaim your gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit, verify your word with miracles – but keep us from making the miracles the message.