The obvious connection between the first and the third lessons for today is that both concern the public reading of scripture. Indeed, taken together, they may provide a reliable guide to proclamation of Law and Gospel. In the first lesson, the Law is read in a way that brings people initially to despair. In Luke 4, Jesus reads words of pure gospel (though also from the Old Testament), a promise of the "good news" of God's salvation. On both occasions, the scripture reading is accompanied by proclamation (Nehemiah 8:8; Luke 4:21). Jesus' sermon, admittedly, is concise and to the point.
