When Jesus in the synagogue read from the prophecy, He stopped short of the final specification concerning the Messiah's work. Having read the words, "To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord," He omitted the phrase, "and the day of vengeance of our God." Isa. 61:2. This was just as much truth as was the first of the prophecy, and by His silence Jesus did not deny the truth. But this last expression was that upon which His hearers delighted to dwell, and which they were desirous of fulfilling. They denounced judgments against the heathen, not discerning 241 that their own guilt was even greater than that of others. They themselves were in deepest need of the mercy they were so ready to deny to the heathen. That day in the synagogue, when Jesus stood among them, was their opportunity to accept the call of Heaven. He who "delighteth in mercy" (Micah 7:18) would fain have saved them from the ruin which their sins were inviting.

Da Jesus i synagogen læste højt af profetien, standsede han pludselig før den endelige redegørelse for Messias' gerning. Da han havde læst ordene: "og udråbe et nådeår fra Herren," undlod han at læse sætningen "en hævnens dag fra vor Gud." Es. 61,2. Dette var i lige så høj grad sandhed som den første del af profetien, og gennem sin tavshed fornægtede Jesus ikke sandheden. Men denne sætning var den, som hans tilhørere frydede sig over at dvæle ved, og som de higede efter at lade gå i opfyldelse. De fældede dam over hedningerne og opdagede ikke, at deres egen skyld var endog større end de andres. De trængte selv uendeligt til den barmhjertighed, som de var så parate til at nægte hedningerne. Denne dag i synagogen, hvor Jesus stod iblandt dem, var deres lejlighed til at tage imod kaldet fra Himmelen. Han, som "gerne er nådig" (Mika 7,18), ønskede blot at frelse dem fra den ødelæggelse, som deres synder ville fremkalde.